AW.  lb 


— 


< 


U.S.  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE. 

DIVISION   OF  CHEMISTRY, 
BUL£#TIN 


SCGAR-PRODUCING  PLANTS; 


THE  COMl^^^ftiaM^^ICULTURE, 

J 

THE    CHEMIST, 
■1887-'88. 

SORGHUM: 

FORT  SCOTT,  KANSAS;  RIO  GRANDE,  NEW  JERSEY. 

8U&AB    CAXE: 
LAWRENCE,  LOUISIANA. 

TOGETHER  WITH  A  8TUBY  OF  THE  DATA  COLLECTED 
ON  SORGHUM  AND  SUGAK  CAM-]. 


WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT    PRINTING   OFFICE. 

1  sss. 


\ 


. 


Itctvntmt  3-  Caiman, 


^ommt4dtimei    '/   <5$zitbu//ait 


U.S.  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE. 

DIVISION   OF  CHEMISTRY. 
BULLETIN  No.  18. 


SUGAR-PRODUCING  PLANTS. 


RECORD   OF   ANALYSES 

MADE    BY   AUTHORITY    OP 

THE  COMMISSIONER  OF  AGRICULTURE, 

UNDER   DIRECTION   OF 

THE    CHEMIST, 

1887-'88. 

SOEGIIUM: 
EOltT  SCOTT,  KANSAS;  BIO  GllANDE,  NEW  JERSEY. 

SUGA11    CAjSTE: 
LAWRENCE,  LOUISIANA 

TOGETHER  Willi  A  STUDY  OP  THE  DATA  COLLECTED 
ON  SORGHUM  AND  SUGAR  CANE, 


WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT    PRINTING   OFFICII  , 
1  888. 
2357G— Bull,  is 1 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2013 


http://archive.org/details/sugarprplOOsubm 


INTRODUCTORY  LETTER. 


Sir:  I  submit  herewith,  for  your  inspection  and  approval,  Bulletin 
No.  18  of  the  Chemical  Division. 

In  Bulletin  Xo.  17  it  is  stated  that  much  of  the  analytical  work  per- 
taining to  the  recent  experiments  in  the  manufacture  of  sugar  was  not 
ready  for  incorporation  in  that  report.  This  work  is  now  finished  and 
tabulated  and  will  be  found  in  the  following  pages. 

In  view  of  the  fact  that  the  experiments  which  have  been  conducted 
for  so  long  a  time  by  the  Department  in  the  manufacture  of  sugar  have 
come  to  a  successful  end,  I  have  thought  it  would  be  useful  here  to 
collect  together,  in  a  condensed  form,  all  the  important  recorded  analyses 
of  sorghum  which  I  have  been  able  to  find.  Where  series  of  such  analyses 
have  been  made,  there  are  given  only  the  means  of  the  analyses,  since 
to  reproduce  them  singly  would  extend  the  size  of  the  bulletin  to  undue 
proportions.  For  those,  however,  who  may  desire  to  study  the  analyses 
more  minutely,  references  are  given  to  original  publications  contain- 
ing them.  I  have  also  added  to  this  part  of  the  work  an  abstract  of 
recorded  tonnage  per  acre  for  sorghum,  yield  of  sugar  per  ton,  and 
other  data  which  may  help  to  assist  any  one  interested  in  the  matter 
to  an  intelligent  conclusion  concerning  the  merits  of  sorghum  as  a 
sugar-producing  plant. 

In  like  manner  I  have  epitomized  the  results  of  the  analytical  in- 
vestigations which  the  Department  has  carried  on  lor  several  years  at 
Magnolia  Plantation,  Lawrence,  La.  Intending  investors  in  establish- 
ments for  manufacturing  sugar  should  have  :<>  a  careful  and 
unbiassed  statement  of  the  data  on  which  the  industry  rests,  and  in 
the  following  pages  an  elfort  has  been  made  to  furnish  this  kind  of  in 
formation. 

Reports  written  under  the  influence  of  prospective  personal  profit, 
or  for  pushing  the  claims  of  a  patent,  or  to  gratify  personal  piqae  or 
ambition,  are  likely  to  become  the  argument  of  the  advocate  rather  than 
the  charge  of  the  non-partisan  judge. 

The  persistent  and  often  malicious  misrepresentation  of  the  work 
which  has  been  done  by  the  Department  has  not  been  without  its 
baneful  influence,  although  it  lias  entirely  failed  of  its  chief  purpose. 
The  large  number  of  persons  interested  in  the  culture  of  sugar  beets, 

sorghum, and  sugar  cane   rOCO  'lie   value  of  the  work   which   the 

I 


Department  has  done,  a  value  which  misrepresentation  can  not  dispar- 
age nor  selfish  greed  pervert. 

In  the  work  which  has  been  done  under  my  supervision  I  am  not  con- 
scious of  having  withheld  credit  from  others  to  whom  it  was  due,  nor 
of  having  claimed,  for  the  Department,  undeserved  honor. 

Exploring  an  unknown  country,  the  real  path  of  progress  has  often 
been  lost  to  view,  and  for  myself  I  am  content  if  my  labors  have  pointed 
out  to  others  the  road  to  success. 

The  cordial  encouragement  and  support  which  1  have  received  from 
yon,  even  in  the  darkest  hour  of  the  work,  have  been  most  unqualified, 
and  your  faith  in  the  ultimate  success  of  the  industry  has  never  fal- 
tered. 

The  process  of  diffusion,  by  the  efforts  of  your  Department,  has  been 
fully  established  as  the  best  and  most  economical  method  of  extracting 
the  sugar  from  the  cane,  and  the  way  has  been  opened  for  private  capi- 
tal to  extend  and  develop©  the  sugar-producing  power  of  our  country 
until  it  shall  be  placed  on  a  sure  foundation  of  prosperity. 
Respectfully, 

H.  W.  Wiley, 

Chemist. 

Hon.  Norman  J.  Colman, 

Commissioner  of  Agriculture. 


ANALYTICAL  WORK  AT  FORT  SCOTT,  SEASON  OF  1887. 


In  the  agreement  made  by  the  Commissioner  of  Agriculture  with  the 
Parkinson  Sugar  Company  for  conducting  the  experiments  in  the  manu- 
facture of  sugar  from  sorghum  during  the  season  of  1887,  provision 
was  made  for  a  complete  chemical  control  of  the  work  by  the  Chemical 
Division  of  this  Department.  Having  been  directed  by  the  Commis- 
sionerof  Agriculture  to  take  charge  of  all  the  chemical  work  to  be  done 
at  the  three  sugar  stations,  Dr.  C.  A.  Crampton  and  Mr.  N.  J.  Fake 
were  directed  to  perform  the  analytical  work  at  Fort  Scott. 

The  following  general  directions  were  sent  for  conducting  the  work: 

U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture,  Chemical  Division, 

Washington,  D.  C,  August  29,  1887. 

Dear  Sir:  In  conducting  the  analytical  work  at  Fort  Scott  during  the  present 
season,  you  will  he  guided  by  the  following  general  directions: 

(1)  Samples  of  cane  from  the  wagon  or  cane-carrier  are  to  ho  taken  from  time  to 
time  as  last  year,  representing  as  nearly  as  possible  the  best,  poorest,  and  medium 
canes  which  are  brought  to  the  factory. 

(*2)  When  the  diffusion  battery  is  in  operation,  a  given  weight  of  chips  is  to  be 
taken  from  each  of  the  cells  until  one  complete  rouud  of  the  battery  is  represented. 

These  samples  are  to  bo  preserved  in  a  closed  vessel  until  all  arc  taken  and  then 
passed  through  a  small  mill  and  the  expressed  juice  examined  in  the  usual  way. 

(.'J)  A  measured  sample  of  the  juice  discharged  from  each  cell  of  the  ditfusion 
battery  should  be  taken  until  one  complete  round  has  been  made.  These  mixed 
samples  of  juice  to  be  examined  in  the  usual  way. 

(4)  Samples  of  the  juice  above  examined  should  bo  taken  after  the  process  of 
clarification,  representing  as  nearly  as  possible  the  same  body  of  juice  as  above,  and 
examined  in  the  usual  way. 

(5)  After  concentration  to  simp,  a  sample  should  be  taken, representing  as  nearly 
as  possible  tho  juice  of  the  above  two  numbers  and  subjected  to  analysis. 

((>)  Samples  of  tho  masse  cuite,  sugar  and  molasses  are  to  bo  taken,  carefully  Labeledi 
and  forwarded  to  the  division  here  for  examination. 

(7)  When  th*'  large  mill  is  running,  samples  of  the  mixed  juices  should  he  taken 
as  often  as  convenient  and  subjected  to  examination. 

(8)  The  bagasse  from  the  large  mill  should  be  examined  from   time  t<>  time,   either 

by  exhaustion  with  Bucoessive  portions  of  water  in  an  open  vessel,  or  bj  exhaustion 
in  a  closed  flask,  a  little  freshly  precipitated  carbonate  of  lime  being  added  to  the 
water  of  maoeral  ion. 

(9)  Take  from  each   cell   of  discharged  chips   a  certain   quantity  represent  r 
nearly  ai  possible  the  mean  character  of  the  chips  discharged  from  that  cell  after  one 

complete  circuit  of  the  battery  has  hecn  made,  pass  the  samples  so  obtained  through 
the  small  mill,  and  subjeol  the  expressed  juices  to  examination. 

Concerning  the  details  of  the  analytical  work,  little  need  he  said.      Double   polaii- 

tation  lanol  nee  iep1  in  cases  where  the  oanea  may  be  badly  injured,  and  you 


will  uso  your  own  discretion  in  this  matter.     You  will  please  report  by  mail  to  this 

office  at  least  once  a  week  the  general  character  of  the  analytical  results  obtained. 

Any  special  chemical  investigations  desired  by  Mr.  Parkinson  or  Mr.  Swenson  you 

will  make,  in  so  far  as  these  may  not  interfere  with  the  genera]  work  indicated  above. 

Respectfully, 

H.  W.  Wiley, 

Chemist. 
Dr.  C.  A.  CitAMPTox, 

Fori  Scott,  Kaus. 

Later  in  the  season  additional  instructions  were  sent  to  carefully 
compare  the  Brix  spindles  used  in  determining  the  total  solids  in  the 
juice  with  the  direct  determination  of  solids  by  drying  a  weighed  por- 
tion of  the  juice  (2  grammes  circa)  and  determining  the  per  cent,  water 
it  contained.  This  was  thought  necessary  because  it  was  found  that 
by  determining  the  water  directly  in  the  masse  cuitcs  they  were  shown 
to  have  a  higher  co- efficient  of  purity  than  the  juices  from  which  they 
were  derived. 

The  large  mill  which,  it  was  expected,  would  be  in  operation,  was 
nor  erected,  and  the  directions  to  examine  the  juices  therefrom  were 
t  herefore  superfluous. 

The  work  at  Fort  Scott  was  begun  on  the  2d  of  September  and  ended 
October  19. 

The  sucrose  in  the  juices  was  determined  by  polarization  in  a  Laurent 
large  model  instrument,  with  white  light  attachment.  During  the  later 
part  of  the  season  a  Schmidt  and  Ilaensch  double-compensating  shadow 
instrument  was  employed  to  check  the  results  of  the  instrument  first 
named. 

The  glucose  was  determined  by  Feb  ling's  (Yiolette's)  solution. 

The  total  solids  were  determined  by  Brix  spindles  and  by  direct 
weighing. 

Following  are  the  results  of  the  analytical  work: 

ANALYSES  OF  JUICES  OF  SELECTED  CANES. 

For  sampling  different  lots  of  cane,  comparing  saccharine  richness, 
etc,  the  juice  of  single  canes,  or  small  collections  thereof,  was  exam- 
ined at  different  periods,  in  these  eases  ii  would  be  expected  that 
much  greater  difference  would  be  found  than  in  the  average  samples  of 

chips  in  the  second  table.     The  results  show  how  rich    single  canes  <-!' 
sorghum  may  be  in  available  sugar,  and  also  how   poor. 

Tint  maximum  content  of  sugar  is  found  in  sample  No.  0,  viz,  11.20. 
The  minimum  is  seen  in  sample  No.  8,  where  the  sucrose  drops  to  2,54 

per  cent. 

DE8CBIP]  i"\'  I  >r  SAMP]  I 

No.    i.  Orange  cane  sample  from  Ballook. 

.'.  Orange  cane  sample  from  Bowman. 

:'..  <  Grange  oane  sample  from  Zoak. 

1.  bate  planted  earh  amber  from  Hi-own. 


No.    8.  Honduras  cane  shipped  by  freight  from  Osage,  Mich.,  to  Fort  Scott. 

20.  Orange  cane  from  wagous,  average  sample  cut  to  dry. 

21.  Amber  cane  from  wagons,  average  sample  cut  to  dry. 
28.  Steward's  hybrid  cane. 

2*J.  Honduras  cane. 

31.  Link's  hybrid,  from  land  of  company  west  of  railroad  track. 

35.  Link's  hybrid,  same  field,  east  end. 
30.  Link's  hybrid,  green  from  slough. 
37.  Link's  hybrid,  brow  of  hill. 

36.  Liuk's  hybrid,  brow  of  next  hill. 

39.  Mixture  of  orange  and  amber  ripe  cane. 

40.  Amber  cane  from  company's  laud. 

41.  Link's  hybrid,  same  field,  green. 

42.  Link's  hybrid,  same  field,  green. 

43.  Link's  hybrid,  same  field,  green. 

148.  Sample  of  cane  cut  and  allowed  to  lie  sometime  to  show  effect  of  inversion, 

253.  Orange  cane  badly  damaged  by  chinch  bugs. 

254.  Same,  another  sample. 

25(5.  Orange  cane  from  company's  laud. 
257.  Orange  cane  from  company's  land. 

Table  No.  1. —  Various  analyses  of  in  ill  juices  from  whole  canes. 


Date. 

Xo. 

Brix 

(corseted). 

Sucrose.         Glucose. 

Sept.    2 

1 
2 
3 
4 

16.63 
19.13 
19.6.5 
1!).  13 

l'>  r  cent 
11.30 
13.  20 
13. 11 

12.  17 

2.  54 
7.83 

14.20 

11.03 

9.  -J  7 

12.44 

8.20 

9.03 

9.88 

12.21 

10.19 

5.95 

10.  22 

10.85 

11.81 

3.  32 
12.98 

13.  07 
7  75 

Per  cent. 

Sept.    2 

Sept.    2 

Sept    2 

8            18.43 

Sept.    9 

20 
21 

28 
29 
31 
35 
30 
37 
38 
41 
42 
43 

M 

148 

254 
258 

15.87 

19.87 
17.87 
16.15 
18.37 
13.68 
14.68 
15.  80 
17.30 
15.  18 

12.43 

15.18 
16.28 
L6.78 

10.31 
17.43 

17.!':: 
1  2.99 
15.31 

16.72 

5.  43 
2.50 

3.  43 

4.  23 
2.23 
2.81 
2.46 
2.82 
1.76 
2.  lii 
2.  78 
2.71 
4.91 
2.  10 
9.  36 
1.78 

Sept.    'J 

Sept.  10 

Sept.  10 

Sept.  10 

Sept.  12 

Sept.   12 

Sept.  12  , 

Sept.   L2    

Sept  12 

Sept.   12 

Sepl   12 

Sept.  12 

Sept  12  

Sept.  24 

Oct    l<» 

Oct    10 

O.-t.       10 

Oct.     10 

m.  12 
14.20 

2.  :.i 

3.  35 
1.  75 

Table  No.  2. — Mill  juices  from  fresh  chips. 


Date. 


Xo. 


Sept. 

Sept. 
Sept. 
Sept. 

Sept. 
Sept. 

Sept 

Sept. 
Sept. 
Sept. 
Sept. 
Sept 
Sept. 
Sept. 
Sept 

Sept. 
Sept. 
Sept. 
Sept. 
Sept. 
Sept. 
Sept. 
Sept. 
Sept 

Sept. 

Sept. 

Sept. 
Sept. 
Sept. 

Oct 

Oct. 
Oct. 
Oct, 
Oct. 
Oct. 
Oct. 
Oct. 
Oot 

Oct. 
Oct. 
Oct, 

Oct. 
O.  t. 
Oct. 
Oct. 
Oct, 
Oct. 
Oct. 
Oct. 
Oct. 
Oct. 
Oct. 
Oct. 

Oct 

Oct. 


' 


5 

9 

11 

16 

23 

30 

33 

17 

51 

.".4 

69 

73 

M 

85 

88 

92 

96 

99 

106 

110 

123 

131 

i:u 

142 

lit) 

149 

l;,:; 

161 

166 

174 

182 

187 

193 

198 

203 

•J  Hi 

222 

230 

238 

246 

258 

262 

265 

272 

278 

287 

'I'.il 

300 

::ni 
807 
.'ill 
315 
318 


Brix 

(collected). 


15.  g:j 

17.  43 
16. 73 
10. 68 
15.87 
16.87 
!•'..  70 
17.88 
17.06 
16.46 
17.  00 

16.  20 

15.  y;f 

14.(1.-) 
17.47 
16.80 

16.  07 
16.78 
16.80 
15.70 
17.68 
17.17 
17.73 
17.21 
16.76 
19.0.) 
17.17 
16.51 

14.  04 
16.79 
1(1*00 
15.79 
15.69 
16.63 
15.83 
16.70 

10.  58 
18.65 
16.  10 
15.76 

15.  21 
14.44 
14.73 
15.11 
14.97 
15.  33 
15.  69 

13.  68 

1 1.  24 
1  5.  1 1 
15.31 
13.09 
15.81 
11.21 

14.  93 


Sucrose. 


16.14 


Percent 

8.  06 
10.78 
10.45 
10.34 
6.20 
9.48 

8.  50 
11.39 

9.  56 
9.21 

10.08 

10.21 

10.15 

9.36 

9.99 

9.  99 

10.  40 

11.19 

10.  21 

8.91 

9.  48 

7.70 

7.07 

9.84 

10.24 

9.86 

11.28 

8.89 

9.04 

10.  39 

10.30 

10.38 

10.38 

10.18 

9.88 

10.00 

10.20 

11.51 

9.60 

7.46 

9.  50 

9.18 

9.13 

10.45 

9.22 

9.  62 

9.  5 1 

8.30 

9.  02 

9.13 

8.85 

7.  09 
0  47 

8.  18 
8.46 


9.51 


Glucose. 


Per  cent. 


3.50 


6.  49 
3.87 
4.10 
3.48 
3.84 
4.07 
3.62 
2.  82 
2.96 

2.  72 
4.  09 

3.  54 
2.67 
1.39 
3.05 
3.  15 
4.20 
5.60 
5.34 
3.82 


3.31 
2.50 
3.93 
2.  68 

3.10 


3.08 

2.  08 

3.  48 

3.  08 


67 
78 
63 
23 
15 
96 

41 

40 

3.17 

2.  75 

3.  53 
2.77 
2.69 
3.  10 
3.  39 
'_>.  47 
3.  03 
3.  23 
3.  60 


3.  40 


A  study  of  Table  Xo.  L*  reveals  the  same  characteristics  of  sorghum 
juices  which  have  been  noticed  in  the  work  of  previous  years.    The 

variations  of  the  juice,  however,  from  the  mean  have  not  been  so  pro 
nounced  as  they  were  during  the  season  of  1886,  owing,  doubtless,  to 
the  fact  that  the  cane  was,  after  harvesting,  more  promptly  delivered 
to  the  factory  and  worked  with  less  delay  than  during  the  previous 
season. 

The  maximum  percent,  of  sucrose  was  fonn  d  in  the  juice  obtained  on 
October  6,  viz,  1  1.51.  Other  notably  good  juices  were  secured  on  Sep 
tembei  12,  19,  and  24;  the  sucrose  in  these  cases  rising  above  11  per 
(•(■nt.    The  Dai ni mum  per  centageof  sucrose  was  found  September  \l 


viz,  6.20.     Other  notably  poor  juices  are  shown  by  the  analyses  of  Sep- 
tember 22  and  October  17. 

Table  No.  :j. — Diffusion  juices. 


Date. 


Sept. 
Sept. 
Sept 
Sept 

Sept. 

Sept. 

Sept. 
Sept. 
Sept. 

Sept. 
Sept. 
Sept 

Sept. 

Sept 

Sept. 

Sept. 
Sept. 
Sept 
Sept. 
Sept. 
Sept 

Srpt. 

Sept. 

Sept. 
Sept. 

Oct 

Oct. 

Oct 
Oct 
Oct 

Oct. 
Oct. 
Oct. 
Oct. 
Oct. 
Oct. 

Oct. 

Oct. 
Oct. 
Oct. 

Oct 
Oot 

(».  i. 

Oct. 

Oct 

Oct. 
Oct. 
Oct. 

Oct 

Oct. 


9... 

10... 
12... 

13  -. 

13  .. 
15... 

15  .. 

16  .. 
16... 
17... 
17... 
1;).., 
19... 
20... 
20... 
21... 
22... 
22... 
2:5 . . . 
23... 
21... 
24.. 
20.. 
27.. 

1... 


x  Brix 

'    (corrected). 


11.. 
II.. 

12.. 
12.. 
13.. 

1::.. 
It., 
i:... 
IT... 
it;.. 

17.. 
17.. 

18.. 
10.. 
19.. 


17 
22 
34 
48 
52 
55 
70 
74 
82 


93 

<<7 
100 
ld7 
111 
121 
132 
135 
14.". 
117 
150 
154 
162 
167 
175 
183 
18S 
194 
199 
204 
217 
223 
231 
239 
247 
259 
263 
266 
27:; 

283 


293 
301 


312 
316 

319 


Me. His     . 

Maxima 
Minima. 


12.28 
12.82 
12.32 

12.08 
12.28 
12.42 
12.  08 
12.02 
12.38 
13  10 
12.28 
12.28 
11.32 
12.28 
12.32 
12.  32 
11.61 
10.85 
11.61 
11.47 
11.57 
12.14 
10.95 
Id.  HI 
in.  17 

10.12 
10.  24 
10.54 
10.  51 
1').  15 
11.05 
11.68 

13.10 

10.98 

11.51 
10.39 
10  49 

9.97 
10.  B2 

9.71 
10.27 
10.17 

lit.  24 
9.  45 
B.  74 
9.51 

9.  t;7 

8.64 


11.08 
13.10 


Sucrose.        Glucose. 


Per  <■•  at. 
7.03 
7.00 
6.51 
7.23 
7.19 
7.47 
7.  57 
8.30 
7.88 
8.79 
7.44 
7.  82 
7.35 
8.00 
6.90 
7.  51 
6.04 

5.  80 
0.  40 
0.71 
6.80 
6.57 
6.92 
6.32 

6.  37 
6.20 
6.  25 
0.15 
6.64 
6.27 
6.44 
6.  29 
7.15 
8.04 
6.  54 

6.58 

6.  51 
0.17 

7.  32 
5.97 
6.59 
6.02 
5.66 
6.  50 
6.  04 

5.  0:, 
5.05 


8.  79 
5.05 


2.  20 
3.07 
1.80 


The  lowest  sucrose  in  the  diffusion  juices  was  found    on  October  17 
and  li),  viz.  5.05  per  cent.,  and  October  17  and  is,  viz,  5.88 and  5.66 per 

cent.     This  was  at    the  cl<>>c  of  the   season.     On   only    four  preceding 

days  did  the  percentage  of  sucrose  fall  below  6,  viz,  September  22,  Oc- 
tobers, 13,  and  15.    The  maximum  percent,  of  sucrose  in  the  diffusion 
juice  was  found  in  sample  No.  86,  September  16,  viz,  *.7'.>. 
The  sample  of  mill  juice  corresponding  to  this  number  is  found  in 

Table  Xo.  2,  sample   No.  s,~>.     The  Sucrose  in   this  juice   was  9.36  per 

cent. 


10 


Thus,  while  the  content  of  sucrose  in  the  chip  juices  for  that  day  was 
18  per  cent,  below  the  average  for  the  season,  the  sucrose  in  the  diffusion 
juice  was  2  11  per  cent,  above  it.  These  numbers  show  the  difficulty  of 
obtaining  comparative  samples  in  sorghum  examinations.  Single  anal- 
yses are  apt  to  be  deceptive,  and  reliance  should  be  placed  rather  on 
the  work  for  the  entire  season. 

TABLE  No.  4.  —  If  ill  jukes  from  exhausted  chips. 


Date. 

No. 

Total 

Date. 

KTo. 

Total  - 

7'.  /•  cent. 

Pi  r 

Sept    0... 

24 

.  99 

Oct,    1.... 

170 

.  57 

Sept.  10... 

32 

I.  lit 

Oct.    3.-.. 

189 

.90 

Sept   12... 

49 

Oct.     4   ... 

200 

1.01 

13... 

58 

AY.t 

Oct    5... 

218 

.88 

Sept.  L5  .. 

71 

.88 

Oct      6   ... 

232 

.84 

Sept.  16... 

1.09 

Oct    7.... 

240 

Sept.  17... 

90 

l.  8:< 

Oct.     8  .. 

248 

L35 

Sept.  L9  .. 

98a 

Oct  11.... 

260 

Sept.  19... 

102 

1.19 

Oct.  12.... 

267 

.91 

Sept.  20... 

108 

L14 

Oct.  13.... 

280 

1.  43 

Sept  20... 

112 

Oct  14.... 

.70 

Sept  21... 

125 

L22 

Oct  15.... 

294 

1.02 

Sept.  22... 

133 

1.27 

Oct.  18... 

313 

1.4-2 

Sept.  23... 

145 

.4!) 

Sept.  24... 

151 

.77 

Average 

1.03 

Sept  26... 

163 

.09 

The  sucrose  in  the  juice  expressed  from  exhausted  chips  was  inverted 
and  estimated  with  the  reducing  sugar  present,  and  the  whole  expressed 
as  total  sugars. 

The  ratio  of  the  sucrose  in  the  chips  to  the  reducing  sugar  shows  that 
the  former  is  more  readily  diffused  than  the  latter.  This  ratio  was  not 
determined  for  the  whole  season.  From  October  8  to  18,  however, 
seven  such  analyses  were  made,  with  the  following  results: 

Table  No.  5. — Sucrose  and  glucose  In  juice  from  exhausted  chips  and  corresponding  diflu- 

,  sion  juices. 


Date. 

Exhausted  chips. 

Diffusion  j  a 

NTo. 

Glucose. 

No. 

Glucose. 

Oct.    8.... 
Oct  11 .... 
Oct  12.... 
Oct  13  ... 
Oct.  U  ... 
Oct.  15  ... 
L8  ... 

A\  • 

•207 
313 

1 

.51 
.  29 

.27 
.43 

1 
.  95 

.77. 

.  99 

217 

200 
27'.) 

293 
812 

2.  03 

1  90 
1.75 

2  02 

5.  90 

1      - 

6,  17 
5.  97 

.  M 

.78 

2.  09 

ira  exhausted  chips    l 

Ratio  of  glo  i  diffusion  juice  l 

Ratio  of  glo  tondlng  mill  juice  from  fresh  chips —  l  i  2.69 

The  variations  in  the  quantities  of  sugar  left  in  the  chips  were  due 
to  differences  in  the  quantity  of  diffusion  juice  drawn  off  at  each  charge, 
and  to  changes  in  rapidity  of  working.  Rapid  working  with  small 
quantities  of  juice  drawn  off  leave  more  sugar  in  the  chips  than  slower 
working  and  larger  charges  of  diffusion  juice. 


11 

Up  to  the  22d  of  Septeaiber  the  quantity  of  juice  drawn  at  each  charge 
was  2,200  pounds.  From  this  time  to  October  4,  2,G40  pounds  were 
drawn  off  each  time.  Thence  to  the  close  of  the  season  2,120  pounds. 
Assuming  that  each  cell  held  2,000  pounds  of  chips  and  the  cane  con- 
tained 90  per  cent,  juice,  we  have  the  following  data  : 

Weight  of  chips  in  each  cell pounds..  2,000 

Normal  juice  in  each  cell do 1,  .^00 

Mean  extraction  (circa) percent..  93 

Normal  juice  extracted  from  each  cell pounds..  1,  074 

Charge  withdrawn  up  to  September  22 • do 2,200 

Weight  added  water do 526 

Percentage  of  dilution 32.02 

Charge  withdrawn  September  22  to  October  4 pounds..  2,G40 

Weight  added  water do 966 

Percentage  of  dilution 57.70 

Charge  withdrawn  October  4  to  .dose pounds..  2,  4"20 

Weight  added  water do 740 

Percentage  of  dilution 44.56 

With  the  modern  appliances  for  evaporating  sugar  juices  in  multiple 
effect  vacuum  pans,  the  objections  which  have  been  urged  against  dif- 
fusion on  account  of  the  necessary  dilution  of  the  juice  are  of  little 
force.  A  dilution  of  GO  per  cent,  is  not  at  all  incompatible  with  the 
complete  economic  success  of  the  process, 

TABLE  No.  G. — Defecated  juices. 


Date. 

N... 

Brix 

(corrected). 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

]'■  t  ■■■  lit. 

/'.  /•  r,  ,,t. 

Sept  12... 

13.  35 

8.25 

2.66 

Sept.  to... 

72 

13.02 

8.  2.'5 

2.55 

Sept.  16... 

B7 

13.28 

Sept.  IT... 

01 

12.48 

7.90 

ii.:.:; 

Sept  19... 

10.90 

C).  !i9 

l.  - 

Sept  19... 

101 

1.97 

Sept.  20. .. 

iOfl 

12.34 

7.  93 

2.11 

Sept.  21... 
Sept  22... 
Sepl 

126 
L36 

144 

12.  n.") 
11.44 
11.24 

<;.  :;■_' 
ft  50 

•J.  35 

Sept  24... 

1 52 

<;.  4:j 

Sept. 

lti4 

M.  81 

0.  11 

2.38 

Oct     1... 
Oot     :{... 

184 

195 

1<M4 

8.24 

..  ...» 

"•I.        4... 

•Jul 

ln.7.-. 

1.7.-. 

Oct 

221 

»;.  7i 

•J.  23 

Oot 

•j:::; 

13.  '-'it 

Oct      7... 

I'll 

in.  VI 

Oct     8... 

•_'4'» 

11.29 

100 

11.. 

in. (U 

ft  <i!> 

on.    12  .. 

ll.no 

7.  IS 

•j.  02 

<».t.    18... 

10.91 

7.  in 

1.69 

Oct    l.".  .. 

10.51 

8.74 

Oct    17  .. 

'.».  7.'. 

:..!'} 

L87 

Oct 

Axei 

820 

:..  1 1 

•J.  nt 

11.81 

ft  91 

2.  lit 

Dr.  0.  A.  Crampton  baa  famished  the  following  additional  notes  on 
tin-  foregoing  analytical  work  : 

The  first  analysis  of  fresh  chipa  was  made  on  Septembers,  bnl  1 1 1  * »  chemical  *'>n- 

ti"l  <>i"  tin-  t'.n  tory  was  not  fully  instituted  until  the  8th,     This  control  consisted  <>t" 


12 

daily  analyses  of  the  fresh  chips  as  supplied  to  fche  battery,  of  the  diffusion  juice,  the 

defecated  juice,  and  of  the  exhausted  chips,  together  with  analyses  of  the  semi-sirup 

(mite  and  BUgar  from  nearly  every  strike  that  was  made.       Great  care  was  taken 

to  have  the  analyses  of  the  different  products  comparable  with  each  other  :  the  samples 

were  always  taken  after  at  least  one  complete  circuit  of  the  battery  had  been  made, 
:i>  starting  up  the  battery  fresh  did  not  allow  of  a  proper  extraction  of  the  tirst  cells 
filled.  After  the  tirst  round  had  been  made  a  sample  of  the  fresh  chips  was  collected, 
an  equal  quantity  being  taken  from  each  cell  filled,  the  whole  properly  mixed  and  run 
through  the  small  experimental  mill,  and  the  juice  submitted  to  analysis.  Tin  sam. 
plo  of  diffusion  juice  was  taken  from  the  same  cells  represented  by  the  samples  of 
fresh  chips,  by  collecting  and  mixing  together  equal  volumes  from  the  drawings  from 

each  cell.  The  sample  of  exhausted  chips  was  likewise  collected  from  the  same  cells, 
and  the  juice  obtained  from  them  by  pressure  with  the  small  mill.  Thus  the  analyses 
of  these  three  important  products  are  strictly  comparable  and  represent  as  truth- 
fully as  is  possible,  BO  far  as  the  sampling  is  concerned,  the  character  of  the  cane  en- 
tering the  battery,  of  the  juice  obtained  from  it,  and  of  the  waste  matter  thrown  out. 
The  defecated  juices,  having  been  boiled  continuously  in  an  open  pan,  samples  could 
not  be  obtained  which  would  correspond  precisely  with  the samples  of  diffusion  juice, 
but  they  were  taken  from  a  large  recen  ing  tank,  which  held  the  juice  from  a  number  of 
cells,  so  may  be  taken  as  a  fair  average  of  the  defecated  juice  as  it  went  to  the  double 
effect. 

ANALYSIS  OF   WHOLE    CANES,   TABLE    1. 

These  analyses  were  made  for  various  purposes  and  are  inserted  here  simply  as  a 
matter  of  reference.  They  furnish  additional  proof,  if  any  is  needed,  of  the  extreme 
variability  of  sorghum  cane,  and  of  the  fact  that  analyses  of  a  few  selected  canes 
give  higher  results  than  the  average  of  a  crop,  and  can  not  be  depended  on  to  show 
the  average  composition  of  a  field  of  cane.  Nos.  29-43  were  taken  from  different 
parts  of  the  same  field,  and  at  the  same  time.  They  show  a  content  ofsucrose  all  the 
way  from  12.44  to  5.95  per  cent.  No.  148  shows  very  well  the  inversion  sorghum  un- 
dergoes by  keeping  after  it  is  cut.  It  was  taken  from  a  load  brought  in  by  a  farmer, 
and  had  doubtless  lain  in  the  field  several  days  after  it  was  out.  This  analysis,  which 
is  simply  an  instance  of  what  has  been  frequently  observed  before,  shows  the  neces- 
sity for  the  rapid  handling  of  sorghum  after  it  is  cut.  It  has  been  proposed  to  buy 
sorghum  cane  by  its  Brix  indication,  as  is  done  with  beets  in  some  parts  of  Ger- 
many.  This  analysis,  with  a  liiix  indication  of  '9,  and  a  polarization  of 3.32,  shows 
very  conclusively  that  it  would  not  pay  very  well  to  buy  cane  that  had  stood  exposed 
on  the  degree  Urix  given  by  the  juice. 

Table  N<>.  ?. — Sirups  (thick  juices). 


Date. 

N... 

Brii 
(ooi  reoted). 

Soorose. 

Glai 

Percent 

to.  IS 

7.  e  * 

16.92 

7.  69 
In  16 

11.  70 

'.»  69 

Sept.    12. 

Sept.    13 

Si  pt.     1."-  

Sept.    17 

Sept.    '-">  

Sept.    22  

Sept.    •!.'.  

Sept.    L'l  

on.       :t  

o.i.       0  

M.I.           7 

ta 

18  

Oct     n     

16 
67 

?:. 
'..I 
118 

187 
156 
196 

276 

41.66 

41.86 

5«J.  30 

16.  in 

28.  70 
39.  Ui 
41.96 

28.  00 

:;;.   in 

27.  76 
26.  7n 

\r,  66 
l  '   i" 
60   1" 
60.  60 

40.90 

16  26 
16.  ::ii 
6.  rj 

13 

The  variations  in  the  proportion  of  sucrose  to  glucose  in  the  thick 
juice  as  shown  on  Table  Xo.  7  are  much  greater  than  would  be  expected 
from  the  analyses  recorded  in  the  foregoing  tables.  The  thorough  mix- 
ing of  the  products  of  large  numbers  of  diffusion  charges  should  tend 
theoretically  to  equalize  the  ratios  of  the  two  sugars.  This  remark- 
able variation  is  explained  partly  by  the  addition  of  sugar  to  the  clari- 
fied juices  in  order  to  promote  crystallization  in  the  vacuum  pan. 

Table  No.  8. — Masse  cuites. 


No. 

Moist- 
ure. 

Ash. 

Glucose. 

Sucrose 
direct. 

Sucrose 
indirect, 

Not 
sugar. 

Remarks. 

Per  cent. 

Pr.  ct. 

Percent.  Per  cent. 

Per  cent. 

Pr.  ct. 

5309 

12.  34 

4.82 

21.69 

50.44 

53.94 

6.81 

Not  enriched. 

5310 

11.18 

5.28 

22.  70 

52.85 

56.73 

4.11 

Do. 

5311 

11.47 

4.  22 

15.92 

62.  40 

66.47 

1.92 

Enriched. 

5312 

13.  86 

4.07 

16.  91 

55.  93 

60.22 

4.94 

Do. 

5313 

13.58 

4.13 

15.  62 

60.52 

65.  30 

1.37 

Do. 

5314 

12.11 

4.58 

18.19 

50.  19 

55.  32 

9.80 

Not  enriched. 

5315 

13.83 

4.48 

19.88 

52. 18 

58.50 

3.31 

Do. 

5316 

12.74 

4.81 

16.82 

60.24 

64.01 

1.62 

Do. 

5343 

13.83 

4.02 

15.25 

60.97 

61.  25 

5.65 

Enriched. 

5381 

16.72 

5.09 

19.  CO 

57.64 

55.83 

2.75 

Not  enriched. 

5385 

17.80 

4.72 

21.  00 

50.  28 

51.76 

4.72 

Do. 

5386 

13.  22 

4.26 

16.  55 

63.  12 

62.  66 

3.  31 

Enriched. 

5387 

14.48 

4.48 

15.83 

63.16 

62.  63 

2.58 

Not  enriched. 

5388 

13.  89 

1.83 

16.40 

57.84 

59.64 

5.24 

Do. 

5389 

15.19 

4.60 

19.52 

56.70 

55.59 

5.04 

Do. 

5344 

14.38 

4.50 

17.36 

61.79 

61.  83 

1.93 

Do. 

5347 

11.40 

4.49 

13.  61 

65.  23 

63.  38 

7.12 

Do. 

5348 

12.96 

5.01 

15.20 

61.79 

61.51 

5.  32 

Do. 

5349 

13.  30 

4.62 

17.  30 

60.  00 

60.  00 

4.78 

Do. 

5353 

12.  5:. 

7.14 

17.78 

59. 10 

59.62 

2.91 

Do. 

5354 

25.61 

4.  24 

15.  95 

51.90 

52.  11 

2.09 

Do. 

5355 

15.  E9 

4.  93 

18.18 

56.  03 

58.  91 

2.39 

Do. 

5357 

13.10 

4.  92 

19.40 

57.  37 

5.21 

Do. 

5358 

22.  01 

4.80 

16.68 

54.86 

52.  18 

4.33 

Do. 

5;.83 
Ave  .. 

14.  12 

4.  32 

15.70 

66.  08 

59.  77 

C.07 

Do. 

14.45 

4.70 

17.56 

51.87 

59.06 

4.21 

The  remarks  applied  to  the  analyses  of  the  sirups,  Table  Xo.  7,  belong 
equally  well  to  Table  Xo.  8.  A  distinction  is  made  of  the  samples  for- 
tified by  the  addition  of  sugar.  The  differences  between  direct  and  double 
polarization,  which  are  so  plainly  shown  in  the  analysis  of  sirups,  masse 
cuites,  and  molasses,  will  be  discussed  in  another  place.  The  greatei 
reliance  should  be  placed  on  the  indirect  polarization  when  it  is  care- 
fully done.  Vet  the  difficulties  attending  an  accurate  analysis  of  these 
substances  are  very  great,  and  every  precaution  known  to  science  will 
not  always  lead  to  perfectly  satisfactory  results. 

The  remarkable  difference  between  the  direct  and  indirect  polariza- 
tions will  at  once  be  remarked  in  the  mean  results  of  Table  No.  8.  In 
general,  as  has  been  already  said,  the  preference  should  be  given  to  the 
Indirect  polarisation  when  carefully  done.     In  the  present  case,  however, 

the  percentage  of  sucrose  by  indirect  polarization  appears  to  be  too 
high.  The  mean  percentage  of  organic  solids  not  sugar  is  only  4.21,  a 
much  less  proportion  than  would  be  expected. 


14 


Table  No.  9. — Polarization  of  first  sugars. 


No. 

Sucrose. 

No. 

- 

Per  cent. 

Per  cent. 

0 

97.  90 

202 

96.  60 

GO 

95.  u() 

224 

95.20 

61 

96.  7() 

96.  40 

77 

08.  10 

236 

94.  80 

104 

07.  80 

245 

93.  £0 

195 

91.20 

250 

94.  90 

120 

96.  50 

251 

94.20 

139 

94.  20 

277 

95.  30 

159 

97.  30 

281 

96.10 

160 

97.  60 

93.  70 

165 

97.  20 

3o2 

92.  40 

168 

90.  30 

303 

9'..  60 

160 

97.  10 

310 

93.  60 

192 

96.70 

Mean  - 

95.  64 

TABLE  No.  10.—  Second  sugars. 


No. 

83 
173 
255 

Mem  .. 

Sua  i 

Per  rtnt. 
82.  30 
88.  70 
86.40 

85.  80 

The  first  sugars,  as  shown  by  Table  Xo.  <),  had  a  mean  content  of  su- 
crose equal  to  95.G4  per  cent.  The  color  of  these  sugars  was  mostly 
grayish  yellow,  and  most  of  the  samples  could  be  used  for  the  coarser 
kinds  of  table  use  and  for  cooking  without  refining. 

Only  a  small  quantity  of  second  sugars  was  made,  it  having  proved 
more  profitable  to  sell  the  molasses  than  to  work  it  into  sugar. 

The  composition  of  the  second  sugars  is  sufticiently  indicated  by 
Table  No.  10. 

I  \iw  I    Xo.  11. — Molasses  from  first  sugars. 


St  :i  t  inn 

Serial 

Moist- 

.A«li. 

Sucrose 

Not 

ure. 

direct. 

indirect. 

«i)tf;ir. 

I 

1 

- 

281 

82 

16.43 

28.  10 

36  07 

18.81 

59 

5318 

0.18 

27.  90 

3.01 

79 

5320 

5.  97 

3152 

11.  is 

89 

,V"1 

25.  50 

5.91 

23.  15 

35.  30 

10  98 

07a 

r.:s.  '2 

5.  22 

22.  73 

5,  1 1 

lo3 

5323 

23.  30 

6   11 

27.  17 

5. 7:1 

[80 

23.01 

8.  oi 

24.32 

:;-..  10 

10.  1  1 

lie 

ragei 

22.  22 

7.  12 

25.  00 

81.70 

23.  42 

0.17 

25.31 

35.  81 

30.00 

In  Table  No.  1 1  is  given  the  composition  of  (he  molasses  after  separat- 
ing the  first  sugar.  The  increase  in  per  cent.  SUCrOSe  on  double  polariza- 
tion is  not  as  great  as  the  results  with  masH  cuites  would  lead  us  to  ex- 
pect 


15 

The  samples  taken  from  the  tanks  at  different  times  represent  fairly 
well  the  average  composition  of  the  whole  for  the  entire  season. 

The  sucrose  remaining  after  the  first  crystallization  is  seen  to  be  nearly 
1.5  times  the  reducing  sugar. 

The  composition  of  the  molasses  gives  a  check  on  the  yield  of  sugar  per 
ton,  which  the  failure  to  weigh  the  cane  left  to  a  certain  extent  undeter- 
mined. Supposing  that  there  was  no  appreciable  destruction  of  reduc- 
ing sugar  during  the  process  of  clarification,  and  no  inversion  of  su- 
crose during  the  evaporation,  the  relative  composition  of  the  molasses 
and  diffusion  juices  will  indicate  the  theoretical  yield  in  sucrose.  Since, 
however,  the  quantity  of  diffusion  juice  drawn  off  is  difficult  to  deter- 
mine from  the  data  furnished,  the  comparison  will  have  to  be  made  on 
the  composition  of  the  normal  juice  expressed  from  the  samples  of  fresh 
chips. 

In  these  juices  the  mean  composition  for  the  season  was — 

Per  cent. 

Sucrose 9.  54 

Reducing  sugars 3.  40 

In  the  molasses  the  proportion  of  reducing  sugars  to  sucrose  is — 
25.31  :  3G.00,  or  1.42. 

Now,  the  product  of  3.40  by  1.12  is  4.S3 ;  and  0.51  -  4.83  =  4.71,  the 
percentage  of  sucrose  obtained  in  first  sugars. 

I  u  1  ton  of  cane  chips  there  are,  in  round  numbers,  1,800  pounds  juice. 
The  extraction  was  03  per  cent.,  or  1,074  pounds.  The  theoretical  quan  ■ 
tity  of  pure  sucrose  obtained  per  ton  was,  therefore,  78.8  pounds. 

The  mean  polarization  of  the  first  sugars  was  95.04.  Then  78.8^- 95. G4  = 
82.38  =  number  of  pounds  actual  weight  first  sugar  produced  per  ton. 

The  yield  per  ton  is  estimated  at  100  pounds  by  Mr.  Swenson1.  By 
Mr.  Gowgill  the  yield  per  ton  is  estimated  at  93.8  pounds  per  ton*.  A 
fact  worthy  of  remark  will  be  noticed  on  comparing  this  yield  with  the 
output  at  Rio  Grande  and  Magnolia,  to  be  mentioned  further  on.  It  is 
this:  That  tin'  quantity  of  sugar  obtained  at  the  first  crystallization  can 
not  be  determined  by  any  fixed  rule  based  on  the  relative  proportions 
of  sucrose  and  glucose  in  the  juice.  As  the  proportion  of  sucrose  dimin 
ishes  the  relative  amount  obtained  rapidly  increases.     At    Rio  (irande. 

for  instance,  the  quantity  of  sucrose  remaining  in  the  molasses  aftei 
the  first  crystallization  is  actually  less  in  some  cases  than  the  glucose, 

In  Louisiana,  even  altera  second  or  third  crystallization,  more  sucrose 
than  glucose  will  usually— not  always— be  found   in  the  molas 

In  the  working  of  sorghum  of  the  richness  indicated  by  the  foregoing 
analyses,  it  is  a  grave  question  whet  her  a  second  crystallization  is  com 
mercially  desirable  or  even  practicable  The  difficulty  of  drying  the 
see., n,i  massi  cuite  in  the  centrifugals  is  often  s<>  greal  as  to  render  it 
commercially  unprofitable*  Until  the  quality  of  sorghum,  therefore,  is 
'Ball.  it.  p.  I  ■  ii. ui.  p 


16 

improved  it  will  be  well  to  base  all  calculations  on  the  yield  of  first 

sugars  alone.    This  yield,  with  such  caue  as  mentioned,  will  be  -1  to  4.5 
per  cent,  on  the  weight  of  clean  cane. 

Table  Xo.  12. — Second  masse  cuite. 


No. 

Moist- 
ure. 

Asb. 

Glucose. 

Sucrose   Sucrose 
direct,    indirect. 

Not  sugar 
mio). 

5345 
5384 
5356 

Means 

19.34 

18.  02 
21.00 

Percent. 
7.08 
6.93 
7.26 

Percent.  Percent.  Percent. 
27.30         89.15         38.65 
29.  70         39.  68         44.  81 
26.45         40.52         41.98 

Per  cent. 
7.0:5 
1.  04 
3.31 

19.  45           7.  09           27.  82 

39.78         41.84 

3.99 

Table  No.  13. — ITolasses  from  seconds. 


No. 

Moist- 
ure. 

Ash. 

Glucose. 

Sucrose 
direct. 

32.  40 
35.  60 

31.  66 

Sucrose 
indirect. 

Per  cent. 

29.  08 
33.  58 

30.  C8 

No!  sugar 
(organic). 

3.15 
5.90 

5350 
5351 
5380 

Means 

• 

24.  42 
26.14 

Pt  r  cent 

8.06 
8.00 
7.  53 

/'.  ret  nt. 
81.35 

30.  85 
29.78 

25.  39           7.  86 

30.66 

33.  22 

31.11 

4.98 

In  the  second  masse  cuiies  the  only  marked  difference  from  the  first 
molasses  is  in  the  degree  of  evaporation. 

In  the  second  molasses  we  see  the  sucrose  about  in  the  same  propor- 
tion as  the  glucose.  It  is  also  less  by  double  polarization — a  fact  diffi- 
cult of  explanation. 

TOTAL   SOLIDS  IN  JUICES. 

In  Tables  Kos.  1,  2,  and  3  the  total  solids  represent  the  readings  of 
the  hydrometer  graduated  to  give  the  quantity  of  pare  sugar  in  an 
a<jueous  solution,  and  corrected  for  temperature. 

It  is  evident  that  in  a  cane  juice  containing  large  quantities  of  solids 
other  than  pure  sucrose,  these  readings  can  give  only  approximately  the 
percentage  of  dry  solid  matter  in  solution. 

Instructions  were  therefore  sent  to  Port  Scott  to  determine  dry  vola- 
tile matter  or  total  solids  by  evaporating  a  weighed  portion  of  the  juice 
and  noting  the  weight  of  the  residue  dried  to  practically  constant 
weight  at  105°  O.  This  operation  was  carried  on  in  a  tlat  platinum 
dish,  about  2  grains  of  the  juice  being  used  in  each  case.  The  re- 
sults .showed  a  marked  difference  in  the  data  furnished  by  tin4  I » i  i v 
hydrometer  and   the  direct    method,   the  latter  being  uniformly  lower, 

thus  Increasing  the  apparent   parity  of  the  juice.    In  this  operation, 
however,  the  difficulty  of  securing  uniform  desiccation  is  great.    The 

greater   the   quantity   of   solid    matter  contained    in   a   given    juice   the 

more  difficult  Is  it  to  secure  the  complete  removal  of  the  water.    The 


17 

differences  noted,  therefore,  in  the  case  of  th*»  mill  juices  are  greater 
than  in  the  juices  of  diffusion.  This  matter  will  be  referred  to  again  in 
the  Louisiana  analyses  to  follow.  In  Table  Xo.  14  the  differences  arc 
given: 

Table  No.  14. — Comparison  of  total  solids  by  spindle  with  results  obtained  by  direct  es- 
timation. 


Mill  juices. 

Difl'usiou  juices. 

No. 

Direct. 

Indirect. 

No. 

1 

Direct. 

Indin 

•  fit 

Per  cent. 

/'■  r  cent. 

Ter 

2:58 

15.07 

10.  10 

239 

10.  15 

10.98 

240 

14.  95 

15.70 

247 

10.54 

11.51 

258 

14.55 

15.21 

259 

9.  50 

10.39 

202 

13.85 

14.44 

203 

9.00 

10.40 

205 

14.40 

14.73 

200 

9.00 

9.  97 

272 

14.80 

15.11 

273 

10.05 

10.82 

278 

14.40 

14.97 

279 

8.85 

9.71 

282 

14.85 

15.33 

283 

9.40 

10.27 

292 

13.40 

13.08 

293 

8.43 

9.34 

2S5 

13.60 

14.24 

290 

9.  30 

10.24 

300 

14.78 

15. 11 

301 

8.58 

9.  45 

^04 

14.85 

15.  31 

305 

8.10 

8.74 

307 

12.  50 

13.09 

308 

8.80 

9.51 

315 

13.05 

14.21 

312 

9.67 

318 

14.65 

14.  93 

316 

7.  Ml 

8.64 

319 

8.05 

8.77 

Aver  . 

14.33 

14.81 

Aver  . 

9.00 

9.91 

Dr.  Crampton  makes  the  following  observations  on  this  work : 
These  results  are  very  interesting  and  important.  They  show  that  while  the  spin- 
dles  give  results  bnt  Blightly  below  the  actual  determination  bydrying  in  the  caseof 
mill  juices,  the  results  with  the  diffusion  juices  were,  on  an  average,  .85  too  high. 
The  spindles  used  were  tested  afterwards  with  a  standard  solution  of  pure  sugar,  and 
found  to  give  results  about  .2  too  high.  They  corresponded  closely  with  a  delicate 
saccharimeter  tested  by  Scheibler.  The  different  results  given  by  them  in  tin 
of  t  li<-  mill  and  diffusion  juices  I  am  unable  to  explain,  as  it  would  seem  more  rational 
that  the  diffusion  juices,  being  more  nearly  pure  solutions  of  sugar  than  the  mill, 
would  give  results  approximating  more  closely  to  the  standard  upon  which  the  spin- 
dles were  based.  It  is  possible  thai  the  large  amount  of  suspended  solids  in  the  mill 
juices  may  in  some  way  account  for  the  discrepancy.  At  all  events  the  direct  de- 
termination doubtless  gives  more  reliable  results.  Correcting  the  average  results  on 
the  basis  of  the  samples  in  which  a  direct  est  i  mat  ion  was  made  we  have : 

Total  solids  in  the  mill  juices  for  the  season 15.66 

Co-efficient  of  puritj  based  on  above 60.9 

Total  solids  in  diffusion  juices  for  the  season \< 

Co-efficient  of  purity 65.3 

Showing  an  increase  in  the  purity  of  the  d illusion  over  the  mill  juices  of  1.1  points. 

Tin'  ratio  ot  glucose  bo  ra<  i  oee  in  the  two  juices  for  the  season  w  ^  as  follows: 

Mill  juice 1   : 

Diffusion  juice i  i 

This  would  seem  to  show  one  of  tWO  things  i    Kit  her  t  her.'  was  absolutely   no  inver- 
sion in  the  battery,  and  the  Blight  difference  in  favoi  of  toe  diffusion  juice  vras  due 
to  error  of  analysis,  or  that  t  he  glucose  in  the  cane  was  not  s,,  roadilj  diffusible  as  the 
sucrose,  and  thus  a  greater  proportionate  amount  of  the  latter  was  obtained  l>j  diffusion 
23576— Bull  is 2 


18 

than  l>y  milling,  sufficient  to  cover  whatever  slight  inversion  there  was  in  the  bat- 
tery, and  leave  a  margin  beside.  The  latter  hypothesis  seems  to  be  borne  out  by  the 
analysis  of  the  exhausted  chips.  Up  to  October  8  the  total  sugar  remaining  in  the 
chips  was  determined,  no  separate  analyses  being  made  of  glucose  and  sucrose.  After 
that  date  both  sugars  were  estimated.  Table  Xo.  5  gives  the  results,  together  with 
the  sucrose  and  glucose  in  the  corresponding  diffusion  juice- ; 

Table  No.  15. — Acidity  in  mill  juices  and  diffusion. 


Mill  Juice. 

Diffusion. 

Xo. 

c  r  n- 

L.L.10 

Xo. 

o-o.fi 

alk.  for  100. 

alk.  for  100. 

174 

32.0 

175 

14.4 

193 

28.8 

194 

16.8 

198 

38.0 

199 

20.  0 

222 

32.0 

223 

18.4 

230 

39.0 

231 

32.  4 

'.'XO 

20.0 

'J  4  6 

30.0 

•JIT 

20.0 

258 

10.0 

259 

16.0 

265 

20.  0 

266 

15.2 

278 

34.0 

279 

18.0 

292 

18.0 

293 

10.0 

304 

34.0 

305 

12.0 

311 

21.0 

312 

9.0 

315 

26.0 

316 

10.0 

Mean . 

29.1 

Mean . 

16.3 

The  work  recorded  in  Table  No.  15  was  undertaken  to  show  the  ex- 
tent to  which  the  carbonate  of  lime  added  to  the  diffusion  cells  neutral- 
ized the  free  acids  of  the  juice.  The  numbers  indicate  the  quantity  of 
tenth  normal  alkali  required  to  neutralize  the  acids  in  100  cubic  centim- 
eters of  the  juice.  Taking  as  a  basis  of  comparison  the  total  solids 
in  the  mill  and  diffusion  juices  for  the  seasou,  as  indicated  in  Tables 
Xos.  2  and  3,  the  following  data  are  obtained: 

Total  solids  in  mill  juices It'..  1  I 

Total  solids  iu  diffusion  juices 11.  08 

Acidity  of  mill  juice 89.1    CO. 

The  normal  acidity  of  the  diffusion  juice,  had  no  carbonate  been 
used,  is  obtained  by  the  following  calculation  : 

16.1 1  :  11.08=29.1    :  X  :  whence 
\       -    L9.98 

The  mean  quantity  of  alkali  required  for  neutralizing  the  acid  in  the 
diffusion   juice  was   16.3  cubic  centimeters.      Deduct  thifl  number  from 

the  calculated  normal  number  ami  the  difference,  viz,  3.68  cubic  centim- 
eters, represents  the  amount  of  acid  neutralized. 

The  percentage  Of  acid   neutralized  is  therefore  3.68-^29.1  X  100  = 

L2.65.  The  action  of  the  carbonate,  therefore,  in  neutralizing  the  acids 
is  not  as  far  reaching  as  the  experiments  made  by  the  l department  and 
n  corded  in  Bulletin  11  would  lead  us  to  expect. 


19 

.Dr.  Cramptou  has  made  the  following  report  respecting  the  extrac- 
tion of  sugar : 

The  mill  juice  from  exhausted  chips  contained  1.03  per  cent,  of  total  sugars.  This 
gives  the  total  sugars  as  U2.04  per  cent,  of  the  amount  contained  in  the  cane.  Sup- 
posing the  ratio  of  glucose  to  sucrose  in  the  exhausted  chips  for  the  whole  season  to 
have  been  the  same  as  that  shown  during  the  time  that  the  two  sugars  were  esti- 
mated separately,  the  average  sucrose  remaining  would  be  .G-1  per  cent,  to  the  juice, 
or  .01  per  cent,  of  the  chips  themselves.  This  would  give  an  extraction  of  92.87  per 
cent,  of  the  total  sucrose  present  in  the  cane. 

This  is  not  so  good  an  extraction  as  has  been  obtained  in  previous  experiments  with 
diffusion  on  cane.  It  is  explained  b\  Professor  Swenson  on  the  ground  that  the  chips 
were  not  made  fine  enough,  gaps  in  the  knives  of  the  small  cutters,  made  by  stones, 
etc.,  getting  into  it,  allowing  of  the  passage  of  comparatively  large  pieces  of  cane. 


WORK  AT  RIO  GRANDE,  N.  J. 


The  general  instructions  sent  to  the  Fort  Scott  station  were  given 
also  to  the  analysts  at  Eio  Grande,  with  such  changes  only  as  the 
locality  required. 

Mr.  F.  V.  Broad  bent  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  analytical  work, 
with  Mr.  Hubert  Edson  as  assistant.  Mr.  Broadbent  resigned  his  posi- 
tion early  in  October.  Mr.  Edson  then  took  charge  of  the  work  and 
remained  until  the  close  of  the  season.  With  the  assistance  of  one  boy 
he  successfully  conducted  the  chemical  control  of  the  factory. 

In  the  following  tables  are  given  the  results  of  his  work: 


Table  No.  IG.— Juices  from  diffusion  chips. 


Date. 

Specific 
gravity. 

Baume. 

Brix  (cor- 
rected). 

Sui  rose 

Purity. 

Glucose. 

1 

1 

Sept   8  

Sept   9 

Sept.  10 

Sept  L2 

Sept  13 

Sept  1"» 

1.  057 

7  8 

14.  00 

7.  '.'» 

56.  47 

1.  ().'.:» 
1.  0.">7 

1  .   a 

S.  1 

13.  96 

7.  7 

13. 53 

61.  oi 

1  052 
1.  052 

7  2 

1 2.  s2 

7.  95 

02.  10 

L  ." 

12.  8ii 

S    11) 

i;:i.  28 

1.051 

t'I 

12.96 

7.  37 

"■y.Yo" 

Sept  IT  .... 

1.054 

7.  .". 

8.  01 

02.  4:1 

X  22 

Sept  19    .... 

1.050 

<;.'.» 

12.26 

7.  2!) 

59.  16 

B.79 

Sept  19 

1.052 

7.2 

22.  92 

7.:i:{ 

56.73 

l.o7 

Sept  20 

1.  055 

7.0 

12.96 

7.  (il 

f>8.  72 

■A.  13 

Sept.  20 

1.057 

7.8 

13.62 

7    >2 

55.21 

:;.  :m 

Sept  21  

1.069 

9.4 

16.  17 

11.63 

70.61 

Sept  21 

1.072 

17.  -mi 

12.28 

c,s.  99 

2.  Tti 

Sept  22 

1.063 

8.0 

10.88 

71.20 

2.  4G 

Sc|,i.-j:{ 

1.059 

8.  1 

13.90 

8.  32 

;?.  04 

Sept  24 

1.058 

7.8 

13.86 

8.  55 

01.69 

Sept  26 

1.061 

8.:f 

14.23 

«.».  0!> 

•2.  07 

Sept.  27     .    . 

1.058 

7.!) 

13.71 

H   12 

61.42 

Sept  27 

1   061 

8.  :i 

14.37 

62.  :.r. 

8.  so 

s,  pt28 

1.060 

11   2" 

01.  07 

Sept.  29 

L.053 

7.:t 

13.  02 

8.  29 

8.  30 

on.      1 

1.053 

7.:; 

13.01 

61.34 

Oct    ;{ 

7  o 

11.  19 

:;.  IS 

o,t.     :i 

7.7 

13.74 

61.36 

Oct 

1.000 

14.67 

8.  s:i 

60.  19 

:;.  63 

Oct     4 

7. !» 

14.31 

65.  27 

8.  69 

Oct     B 

1.0.-.7 

9.21 

■J  70 

Oct     <; 

*.  1 

15.03 

9.  19 

01.  H 

Oct     7  

1.057 

7.8 

13.88 

-  «\ 

lil    11 

Oct     8 

1.056 

7.7 

13.66 

7.40 

•  il.  1'.' 

:t.  71 

<»,  t.     ID 

1.065 

15.94 

In   !•", 

Oct.     ]() 

S  !i 

16.88 

11.64 

71.28 

8,01 

Oct    M     .... 

'..  0 

15  61 

1  1 .  02 

Oct    n  .... 

1.067 

9.  1 

8.  12 

Oct.    18    ... 

1.056 

7.  !i 

13.66 

B  08 

60   (7 

2.91 

o.t.    13 

1   060 

H.  2 

i    ... 

S.  1 

n  34 

B     i 

:;.  is 

Oct    n 

7.K 
.     1 

13  77 

9  81 

Oct.    17  .... 

16,  71 

11    10 

<>.  1       17      ... 

1.070 

11.51 

Oct     1 

1   060 

0    1 

M    i, 

8.28 

1 1  80 

20 


21 


Table  No.  16. — Tuioes  from  diffusion  chips— Continued. 


Date. 

Specific 

gravity. 

Baume. 

lhix  (>or 
rected.) 

Sucrose. 

Purity. 

Glucose. 

Percent. 

r<  r  .'•  nt. 

Oct.    20  .... 

1.056 

7.7 

13.  2G 

8.  49 

64.02 

2.  83 

Oct.    20 

1.050 

7.7 

8.  52 

64.14 

Oct,   21 

1.050 

6.9 

11.90 

7.  29 

61.  26 

•J.  56 

Oct.    21 

1.053 

7.3 

12.  53 

7.79 

62.  17 

2.94 

Oct.    22 

1.0-18 

6.7 

U.24 

6.81 

60.59 

•1.  U'J 

Oct    24 

1.0G5 

8.9 

15.21 

10.  42 

68.51 

2.  "7 

Oct.    24 

Oct   25 

1.005 
1.051 

8.9 

7.1 

15.47 
12.26 

10.39 

0.74 

67.16 
54.97 

:;.  74 

Oct.    26 

1.  045 

6.1 

10.  45 

4.71 

45.  07 

4.  45 

Oct.    27 

1.056 

7.7 

13.43 

8.85 

65.90 

3.49 

Oct.    27 

1.059 

8  1 

14.10 

9.  20 

65.  25 

3.  7:5 

Oct.    :  9 

1.052 

7.2 

12.  57 

8.  12 

64.60 

3.  40 

Oct.    31 

1.053 

7.3 

12.  24 

8.16 

66.  6G 

3.78 

Oct.    31 

1.056 

7.7 

13.  05 

7.70 

59.  00 

3.  :>.-) 

Nov.     1 

1.0G2 

8.5 

14.52 

9.95 

68.  52 

3.30 

Nov.     2 

1.062 

8.5 

14.35 

9.9G 

69.47 

-- 

Nov.    3  . . . . 
Nov.    8  . . . . 

Mi-ans  .. 

1.0G2 
1.0G1 

8.5 

8.3 

14  74 

14.20 

10.  08 

9.48 

68.38 
G6.29 

3.53 

1.  067 

7.8 

14.02 

8.98 

64.05 

3.24 

Maxima  . 

1.070 

9.5 

17.  Ml 

12.28 

71.28 

4.  15 

Minima.. 

1.045 

6.3 

10.45 

4.71 

45.07 

The  analyses  of  the  samples  of  chips  taken  from  each  charge  of  the 
battery,  often  twice  daily,  show  the  remarkable  fluctuations  in  sucrose 
which  have  always  been  noticed  in  sorghum  juices. 

The  mean  composition  of  the  normal  juice,  Table  10,  shows  a  less  per- 
centage of  sucrose,  but  a  somewhat  higher  purity  than  were  obtained 
at  Fort  Scott. 

The  maximum  percentage  of  sugar  in  the  juice  is  not  as  great  as  at 
Fort  Scott,  ami  the  minimum  is  not  so  small.  In  general  it  may  be 
said  that  the  canes  worked  at  Rio  Grande  were  slightly  inferior  for 
production  of  sugar  to  those  of  Fort  Scott. 

The  theoretical  yield  per  ton,  based  on  the  Fort  Scott  analyses, 
would  have  been  as  follows  : 

Pounds  of  juice  at  '.»:;  per  cent,  extract  ion 1,674. 

Glucose  \  1.42 4.60 

Sucrose  less  glucose  x  1.42.. 1.38 

Pare  Bucrose,  first  crystallization 7:'..  32 

Pare  sucrose,  etc.,  at  Fori  Scott  7-.  - 

The  yield  obtained,  for  various  reasons,  was  much  less  than  this, 
The  tonnage  obtained  at  Rio  Grande,  however,  was  fully  double  that 
at  Fort  Scott,  and  this  heavy  growth  may  account  for  the  slightly  in- 
ferior quality  of  the  cane. 


22 


Table  No.  17. — Diffusion  juice. 


Date 

Specific 
gravity. 

Banna''. 

Liix. 
o 

Biix  (cor- 
rected). 

Sacroee. 

I'oiity. 

Glucose. 

0 

- 

Sept.    - 

1.040 

5.G 

0.0 

9.  57 

Sept.    '••  .... 

1.040 

5.  6 

9.  1 

10.21 

6.21 

Sept.  n>  ... 

1.040 

9.1 

9.  02 

50.  15 

Sept  12 

1.033 

4.7 

8.  1 

8  91 

62.  02 



Sept  13 

1  037 

5.2 

9.0 

9  61 

o.  o:i 

02.  75 



Sept.  15 

1.037 

9.  2 

9.77 

5.  4:t 

Sept.  17 

1.045 

6.3 

10.4 

10.43 

6.71 

64.33 

J.  »rt  * 

Sept.  19 

1.040 

9.6 

10.  16 

5  74 

50.50 

Sept  20  .... 

1.045 

6  3 

10.5 

10.  95 

0.18 

:;.  27 

Sept.  20 

Sept.  21.... 

LI  17 
1  050 

6.  :> 
6.  9 

11.1 
11.8 

11.55 
12.18 

8.47 

57  84 

"2.T2"" 

Sept.  21   ... 

1.060 

6.9 

u.  a 

13.22 

07.  85 

2.17 

Sept  22 

1.060 

8  2 

14.0 

14.40 

9.  00 

2.72 

Sept.  23 

1 .  055 

12.8 

B5.06 

7.  .".I 

5T.50 

3.00 

Sept  24  .... 

1.051 

7.  1 

12.3 

12.  30 

7.07 

57.47 

8.24 

S.-m .  26  ... 

1.042 

5.  9 

9.  :. 

9.  56 

ti.  IS 

01.04 

2. 00 

Sept  27  

1.052 

7. 'J 

12.4 

12.00 

7.  72 

61.27 

8.  27 

Sept.  27 

1.055 

7.0 

12.5 

12.86 

7.81 

0l.o2 

3.51 

Sept.  28    .... 

1.053 

7.3 

12.5 

12.77 

7.47 

&  27 

Sept.  29  ... 

1.051 

7.  1 

11.6 

L2.33 

7.81 

:;.  10 

Oct      l 

1.040 

6.  1 

10.9 

11.58 

7.  09 

til.  20 

3.  09 

Oct     :: 

1.010 

5.  6 

10.0 

11.12 

0.  SO 

61.69 

2.  :s7 

Oct     :* 

1.052 

7.2 

12.1 

12.  62 

7.55 

:t.  00 

Oct.     4 

1.044 

6.1 

10.2 

10.90 

o.  7:5 

61.74 

:;.  10 

Oct.     4 

1.0  0 

7.1 

13.39 

v  To 

04   07 

Oct     .". 

1.043 

6.  0 

10.1 

10.35 

0.  62 

2.  :.o 

Oct     6 

1.045 

6  3 

10.  6 

11.01 

(i.  OS 

63.  40 

2  62 

Oct     7 

l.o:(8 

5.  3 

9.  28 

Oct 

1.035 

4.0 

7.0 

8.44 

5.  08 

00.  10 

2.03 

Oct.     10 

1.042 

f).  9 

10.4 

io  87 

7.  42 

2.  10 

Oct    10 

7.0 

13.6 

14.30 

10.  02 

70.07 

3.10 

Oct    11 

1.057 

7.  8 

13.5 

13.73 

9.  58 

09.78 

2.94 

Oct.    11 

1*052 

7. -' 

12.  1 

12.58 

s.  10 

07.  49 

2.  1  - 

Oct    l:;  ... 

1.045 

C).  3 

io.  5 

10.62 

0.  85 

60.47 

2.50 

Oct    13 

1  052 

7. '_• 

l  •_».:{ 

12.  66 

8.  28 

05.  40 

2.94 

Oct    14  .... 

1.051 

7.  1 

12. '_> 

12.58 

8.11 

til.  IT 

2.01 

Oct    U   ... 

1.053 

7.3 

12.3 

L2.85 

s.  66 

3.01 

Oct    15  .... 

1.047 

(i.  5 

10.  0 

10.98 

7.14 

65.  «i2 

2.81 

Oct    17  ... 

1.034 

7.  9 

8.  12 

0.19 

71.14 

1    57 

Oct    17  .... 

L.035 

4.9 

8.  2 

6.24 

70.75 

........... 

Oi  i.    U  .... 

1   035 

1.  9 

8.2 

0.01 

69.  77 

Oct    l!) 

1.036 

5.1 

8.5 

8.  82 

2.  i:i 

Oct.    20 

1.017 

6.  5 

in.  s 

11.  18 

7.  00 

Oct.    20 

1.046 

6.  I 

10.8 

11.31 

0  07 

61.64 

2.  T.7 

Oct.    21   .... 

L038 

9.  1 

0.51 

5.  54 

54.  05 

2.  16 

Oct    21 

1.045 

6.  3 

10.4 

io. ::{ 

0.  52 

00.  70 

Oct    22 

1.041 

5.7 

9.  5 

!>.  77 

5.  :o 

56.  L9 

2.  80 

Oct    24 

L035 

4.9 

s.  0 

8.   10 

5.81 

00.  17 

1.82 

Oct    'J J.... 
Oet    25  .... 

1.  048 
1.046 

0.7 

<;  i 

li.  i 
10  9 

11.91 
LI.  35 

5  TT 

52.  16 

'":;.  :ct" 

Oct.    26  .... 

1.037 

5.  2 

8.  5 

:;.  so 

ll  :;i 

Oct    27.... 

1.  050 

6  9 

11.8 

12.08 

Till 

63.00 

Oct    27 

L055 

7.0 

12.7 

13  oo 

7  07 

8.60 

Oct 

1.043 

8  o 

10.0 

10.37 

6  19 

:i.  10 

Oct    31 

i   036 

;-..  1 

8.  2 

2. 75 

0(  i.    31    .... 

L045 

(i  :: 

io  6 

11.01 

0.  2:1 

Nov.      1    ... 

1.050 

6.9 

11.7 

ll   82 

0.  T2 

Nov.    '-'  ... 

1.050 

8.  1 

13   1 

L3.  io 

N<>\ .    3. 

L056 

7.7 

13.1 

13  .V. 

Nov. 

1.056 

7.7 

L3.  2 

8.41 

63.  71 

\1.  a:is  . . 

i.on; 

0.4 

10.6 

11.  18 

0. 9:1 

01.  08 

2.  80 

Maxima 

Hi) 

11.  1(1 

10.02 

71.  11 

B.97 

Minima. . 

1.7 

7.  9 

14.81 

1.82 

The  system  of  diffusion  employed  ;it   Rio  Grande  is  fully  explained 

by   Fig.  5,  Bulletin  N<>.   17.     It  differs  radically  from  the  system  <»t 

ed  diffusion.    A.s  operated  a1  Rio  Grande  lasl  year  the  extraction 

w;is  no  better  than  by  good  milling  in  Louisiana,  while  the  dilation  was 

fully  as  great  as  at  Fori  Scotl  and  Magnolia. 

The  defects  of  the  system  were  both  mechanical  ami  chemical, 


23 


The  mechanical  difficulty  is  the  same  as  that  which  attends  all  meth- 
ods of  diffusion  in  which  the  cane  chips  are  moved  instead  of  the  diffu- 
sion liquors.  From  a  mechanical  point  of  view,  it  is  far  easier  and 
more  economical  to  move  a  liquid  in  a  series  of  vessels  than  a  mass  of 
chips.  In  the  Hughes  system  the  whole  mass  of  chips  undergoing 
diffusion,  together  with  adhering  liquor,  and  baskets  and  suspending 
apparatus,  are  lifted  vertically  a  distance  of  several  feet,  varying  with 
the  deptli  of  the  diffusion  tanks  every  few  minutes.  The  mechanical 
energy  required  to  do  this  work  is  enormous,  and  with  large  batteries 
the  process  would  prove  almost  impossible. 

The  chemical  defects  of  the  system  are  shown  in  the  exposure  of  so 
large  a  surface  to  oxidation  and  the  action  of  invertive  ferments.  It 
is  not  surprising,  therefore,  to  notice  a  distinct  increase  in  the  ratio  of 
glucose  to  sucrose  in  the  data  of  Table  No.  17.  Diffusion  in  open  ves- 
sels was  tried  years  ago  with  the  sugar  beet,  aud  was  abandoned  as 
being  both  unscientific  and  expensive.  The  degree  of  extraction  in  open 
vessels  is  also  less  perfect  than  in  closed  cliff  users  where  a  considera- 
ble pressure  is  exerted  on  the  osmotic  liquors.  It  is  but  just  to  say, 
however,  that  the  poor  extraction  obtained  at  Rio  Grande  is  due  more 
to  the  low  temperature  at  which  the  diffusion  took  place  than  to  the 
open  diffusion  vessels.  I  measured  the  temperature  several  times  at 
the  beginning  of  the  season  and  found  it  below  G(P  0. 

By  certain  modifications  made  after  the  close  of  the  season,  Mr. 
Hughes  obtained  a  better  extraction.     (Bulletin  17,  p.  67.) 

The  composition  of  the  diffusion  juices  is  sufficiently  shown  in  Table 
Xo.  17. 

Table  No.  18. — Exhausted  chip  juice. 


Specific 
gravity. 

Baumr. 

I'rix  (cor- 
rected. I 

Sucrose. 

Purity. 

Glucose. 

0 

0 

0 

.' 

Sept.    9  . 

Sept  12.. 
Sept.  13.. 
Sept  15.. 

Sept.  IT 

1.019 

2.  7 

4.  ."> 

').  03 

::.  22 

63.70 

1.  7 

1 .  82 

1.018 

2  (i 

:;.  !i 

:;.  07 

I.  017 

-•  * 

4.  41' 

1.  010 

2  :; 

3.7 

1  22 

2.  67 

:>1 

l.  'i 

l.  55 

2.3 

3.  1 

3.  12 

2.0  1 

'"'til'" 

Sept  10 

1.011 

L.O 

2.0 

2.  70 

1.73 

64.07 

.  7:! 

s.  pt  20 

1.007 

1.0 

1.2 

1.70 

.  09 

.  50 

Sept.  20.. 

1.010 

1.  1 

1.0 

1.  16 

..".1 

Sept  21.. 

1.007 

1.0 

1.88 

.98 

Sept.  21.. 

1.011 

......... 

Sept,  22.. 

""i. :';'.. 

"4.96  " 

"";;.  12 

Sept  23 

1.018 

2.  6 

3.7 

2.31 

56.  1  - 

1.07 

Sept.  24 

1.021 

4.6 

Sept.  26. 

1.021 

1.3 

1.00 

Bept  27.. 

1.018 

- 

4.  05 

1  78 

s.  pt  27. 

1.016 

2. :: 

s.  pt  28 

1.021 

:;  i) 

2.  mi 

Sept  29.. 

1.016 

2. 8 

3.  5 

4.  12 

61.  16 

Oct      l 

1.015 

2.  ii 

1.  M 

Oct     8  . 

1.011 

1.8 

2  1  1 

Oct     :: 

1.021 

Oct      i 

1.016 

. 

•J  54 

1.15 

Oct      4 

8.51 

Oet     5 

1.007 

1  0 

1.7 

Oct     B 

1.  007 

l.n 

1    :. 

2.04 

Oct     V 

1.  000 

1.0 

,81 

1.013 

J.:) 

LOT 

,91 

24 


Table  No.  18. — Exhausted  chip  juice— Continued. 


Date. 

Specific 
gravity. 

Baumc. 

Brix. 

Brix  (cor- 
rected. 1 

o 

Sucrose. 

Purity. 

Glucose. 

0 

0 

Per  cent. 

Per  cent. 

Oct.    ]0.. 

1.018 

2.6 

4.1 

4.40 

2.81 

63.86 

.  92 

Oct.    ]0.. 

1.023 

3.3 

5.6 

3.90 

62.10 

1.25 

Oct.    11.. 

1.  027 

3.8 

6.4 

6.64 

4.  23 

63.  70 

1.56 

Oct.    11.. 

1.016 

2,3 

3.3 

3.  00 

2.:;  i 

64.17 

.  75 

Oct.    13.. 

1.021 

3.0 

4.6 

4.77 

2.  95 

61.85 

1.40 

Oct.    13.. 

1.  022 

3.2 

4.9 

5.  34 

3.  35 

62.  75 

1.37 

Oct.     14.. 

1.023 

3.3 

5.1 

5.42 

3.42 

63.10 

1.41 

Oct    14.. 

1.H19 

2.  7 

4.2 

3.14 

65. 14 

1 .  02 

Oct.    15.. 

1.018 

2.6 

4.1 

4.  :;;> 

2.  72 

62.  53 

1.04 

Oct.    17.. 

1.009 

1.3 

1.9 

2.  23 

1.49 

66.81 

.42 

Oct    17-. 
Oct.    18.. 

1.009 
1.00G 

1.3 
.9 

1.7 
1.1 

2.  14 
1.57 

1 .  29 

.93 

60.  28 

59.  23 

...„„.. 

Oct.    10.. 

1.016 

2.3 

4.5 

5.  03 

2.  53 

50.  30 

.85 

Oct.    20.. 

1.017 

2.4 

3.8 

4.21 

2.  ,-9 

67.  22 

.94 

Oct.    21.. 

1.013 

1.9 

2.  9 

2  01 

61.28 

.79 

Oct.    21.. 

1.021 

3.0 

4.9 

5.  25 

3.11 

59.  24 

1.29 

Oct.    22.. 

1.013 

1.9 

2.6 

2.  -7 

1.87 

65.  85 

.81 

Oct.    24.. 

1.021 

3.0 

4.8 

5.  26 

2.  76 

52.  47 

.  65 

Oct,    25.. 

1.C14 

2.0 

:;.  2 

3.43 

1.75 

51.01 

1.16 

Oct.    26.. 

1.014 

2.0 

3.4 

;:.  -7 

1.91 

49.35 

1.43 

Oct.    27.. 

1.017 

2  4 

3.9 

4.1!) 

2.  73 

65.  1  - 

1.18 

Oct.    27.. 

1.020 

2.9 

4.5 

4.87 

3.  4D 

1.31 

Oct.    29.. 

1.013 

1.9 

3.1 

3.40 

2.48 

72.  94 

.84 

Oct.    31.. 

1.015 

2.2- 

3.  5 

3.67 

2.  17 

64.3! 

1.08 

Oct.    31.. 

1.023 

3.3 

r>. :; 

5.53 

3.09 

54.  07 

1.62 

Nov.     1.. 

1.023 

3.3 

5.4 

5.45 

3.48 

62.  i  2 

1.41 

Nov.    2.. 

1.024 

3.4 

5.4 

5.43 

3.60 

G6.  30 

1.43 

Nov.    :s.. 

Nov.     8.. 
Means  .. 

1.019 
1.019 

2.7 
2.7 

4.2 
4.4 

4.48 
4.56 

2.80 

2.  97 

63  .-1 

62.  94 

—  ••£-  — 

1.01G 

2.3 

3.61 

4.03 

2.  46 

61.04 

.98 

Maxima. 

1.027 

3.8 

6.4 

6.  Ii4 

4.  23 

72.  94 

1 .  62 

Minima  . 

1.006 

.9 

1.0 

1.33 

.81 

43.46 

.i:o 

In  Table  Xo.  18  is  shown  the  composition  of  the  juices  expressed  from 
the  chips  as  discharged  from  the  battery.  The  total  sucrose  in  the  fresh- 
chip  juice,  as  shown  in  Table  Xo.  1G,  was  8.0S  per  cent.  There  was  left 
in  the  juice  of  the  discharged  chips  2.4G  per  cent.  The  juice  remaining 
in  the  chips  suffers  a  slight  dilution  during  the  process  of  diffusion,  but 
for  comparative  purposes  the  quantity  of  juice  in  the  chips  before  and 
after  diffusion  may  be  taken  as  the  same. 

In  this  case  the  percentage  of  juice  extracted  is  8. IKS  —  2.46  =  6.52  per 
cent.  The  percentage  of  extraction,  therefore,  based  on  the  percentage 
of  sucrose  in  juices  from  fresh  and  discharged  chips,  is  72.6.  This  is 
about  the  average  extraction  of  good  milling  in  Louisiana,  but  is  better 
than  the  results  obtained  by  milling  sorghum.  As  already  stated,  the 
efticiency  of  the  apparatus  was  greatly  increased  by  some  changes  made 
after  the  season  was  over. 


25 

Table  No.  l9.-~9irup  (thick  juice). 


Date. 

Specific 
gravity. 

Banna-. 

Brix. 

Brix 
(corrected). 

Sucrose. 

Purity. 

Glucose. 

0 

0 

0 

/'-  /•  cent. 

> 
Per  cent. 

Sept. 
Sept. 
Sept. 
Sept. 
Sept. 
Sept 

8... 

1.130 

17.5 

31.4 

32.10 

18.67 

58.05 

9... 

10.... 

1.138 

1.181 

17.7 
22.3 

34.4 
40.7 

31.86 
41.12 

18.47 
21.26 

57.  97 
51.70 

.'.'.'.'.'..'.... 

12.... 
IS.... 

17.... 

1.122 
1.131 

1.  124 

15.9 
16  9 

10.  1 

28.8 
30.8 

28.8 

29.64 
31.48 
28.83 

16.81 
17.45 
15.74 

56.71 
55.43 
54.60 

........... 

s.'oi"" 

Sept. 

19.... 

1.  128 

10.  6 

29.5 

30.08 

16.60 

55.18 

8.49 

Sept. 

19  ... 

1.1-1.'. 

18.5 

33.  4 

33.  94 

18.22 

53.71 

10.45 

Sept. 

20.... 

1.  145 

18.5 

33.5 

31,05 

17.38 

51.04 

10.  20 

Sept. 

20.... 

1.166 

37.  9 

38.  37 

21.00 

54.  77 

Sept. 

21.... 

1.154 

10.  5 

30.  0 

30.  69 

23.07 

62.  88 

7.44'" 

Sept. 

21.... 

1.14!) 

18.0 

34.2 

34.  74 

23.  00 

60.  21 

7.  26 

Sept, 

22  ... 

1.  101 

20.  0 

37.0 

38.  2G 

25.  51 

00.  68 

7.64 

Sept. 

23  .. 

1.150 

19.1 

34.  S 

35.15 

19.  25 

54.  77 

8.46 

Sept. 

24... 

1.162 

20.  4 

37.1 

37.  20 

20.  50 

55.  27 

9.52 

Sept. 

20.... 

1.  122 

15.9 

28.  G 

28.68 

16.90 

58.  92 

5.97 

Sept. 

27   .. 

1.149 

10.0 

34.0 

34.  83 

20.  03 

57.  56 

9.10 

Sept. 

27.... 

1.110 

14.5 

30.  2 

26.40 

15.  £3 

59.  96 

6.87 

Oct. 

1.... 

1.118 

15.4 

27.  5 

28.55 

17.13 

60.00 

9.24 

Oct 

.'{.... 

1.105 

13.9 

24.  5 

2.\  57 

15.84 

61.95 

6.  05 

Oct 

:*.... 

1  080 

11.  G 

24.  0 

12.32 

49.64 

6.10 

Oct. 

4.... 

1.110 

14.5 

26.0 

26.  60 

15.  44 

58.05 

7.79 

Oct. 

4.... 

1.  155 

19.6 

35.4 

35.91 

21.06 

58.  64 

9.10 

Oct 

4... 

1.099 

13.2 

2:!.  2 

23.  23 

12.  05 

51.  87 

5.  53 

Oct 

6.... 

1. 102 

13.5 

24.4 

24.  70 

16.  25 

05.  70 

5.69 

Oct. 

7.... 

1.  008 

13.1 

23.1 

13.42 

57.10 

6.3  4 

Oct. 

8  ... 

1.087 

11  7 

20.0 

21.28 

11.69 

54.  03 

6.59 

Oct. 

10... 

1    1.-4 

19.5 

35.  0 

35.  74 

22.70 

63.  68 

-      - 

Oct 

11.... 

1.115 

15.1 

26.8 

26.  98 

18.65 

60.13 

6.  32 

Oi  r. 

11.... 

1.140 

18.0 

32.2 

20.  98 

64.51 

7.40 

Oct 

13... 

1.  172 

21.4 

39.  30 

22.  SO 

58.17 

9.70 

Oct 

13.... 

1.  138 

17.7 

32.  3 

32.  55 

19.00 

8.  32 

Oct. 

14... 

1.149 

19.0 

34.5 

34.89 

21.32 

01.11 

8.70 

Oct 

14   ... 

1.147 

18.8 

34.1 

34.  65 

20.  80 

60.  29 

*.XC> 

Oct 

15... 

1.132 

17.0 

30.  9 

31.10 

60.39 

7.91 

Oct 

17.... 

1.083 

11.2 

10.5 

19.88 

13.73 

64.03 

3.81 

Oct. 
Oct. 

17.... 
18.... 

1.085 
1.134 

11.5 

17.3 

19.9 
31.2 

31.84 

14.04 

20.  80 

68.32 

65.  33 

Oct. 

20.... 

1.171 

21.3 

39.  o 

39.59 

23.31 

lo.  r_> 

Oct 

20 ... . 

1.144 

18.4 

31!.  8 

3  4.15 

20.  4  1 

59.85 

7.  95 

Oct. 

21.... 

1.121 

15.8 

15. 15 

52.  94 

7.  50 

Oct 

21.... 

1.1. ".4 

19.5 

35.  3 

35.  00 

10.  10 

53.  82 

10.82 

Oct. 

22.... 

1.163 

20.6 

37.4 

37.51 

18.55 

40.-12 

lo.  70 

Oct 

Oct. 

24   ... 

2:.  .. 

1.183 
1.  131 

22.  5 
16.9 

41.4 
30.6 

42.  02 
30.  90 

24.86    ■ 
15.  82 

59.  io 
51.05 

""a.34**" 

Oct. 

26  ... 

1.126 

10.3 

29.  •'. 

3o.  07 

10.78 

12.94 

Oct. 

27... 

1.158 

L9.9 

30.3 

21.73 

5!).  78 

10.93 

Oct. 

1.139 

17.8 

33.17 

10.  72 

50.4  5 

Oct. 

29 .... 

1.132 

17.0 

31.7 

17.20 

- 

10,  13 

Oct 

31.... 

1.  189 

23.1 

42.  0 

42.  00 

21.8 

51.83 

14.45 

Oct. 

31.... 

1.  118 

15.4 

27.7 

15.07 

5::.  A  4 

Nov. 

1.... 

1.  17:. 

21.7 

51.83 

15.70 

Nov. 

2.... 

1.  192 

13.  1 

13.  10 

25.  20 

12.27 

Nov.     :<.... 
Nov.     8.... 

Means 

1.156 

1.  1.7.1 

1'..   7 
20.0 

36.  4 

86.30 

21.07 
21.20 

"lo.'  7:;'" 

1.  138 

17.7 

31.90 

32.40 

18.68 

57.  65 

M 

azima. 

1.  192 

2.:    4 

43  1 

41.  10 

25.  2.; 

15.70 

M 

iniina. 

1.  083 

11.2 

19.5 

26 

The  diffusion  juice  at  Rio  Grande,  without  any  treatment  whatever, 
was  conducted  directly  to  an  open  pan  and  concentrated  to  a  thin  sirup. 

The  disastrous  effects  of  this  treatment  are  shown  by  the  data  of  Table 
No.  19.  The  evaporation  of  sugar  juices  in  an  open  pan  is  to  be  con- 
demned for  lack  of  economy ;  but  such  treatment,  before  neutralizing 
the  free  acids  of  the  juice,  must  also  necessarily  invert  a  large  portion 
of  the  sucrose. 

The  glucose  per  hundred  of  sucrose  in  the  normal  juice  at  Bio  Grande 
was  3G.0G ;  in  the  sirup  it  was  46.3S. 

The  pan  on  which  the  concentration  took  place  was  shallow  and  fur- 
nished with  steam-pipes.  The  liquor  ran  rapidly  through,  otherwise  the 
inversion  would  have  been  much  greater. 

Table  No.  20.— Masse  cuitcs,  Bio  Grande,  X.  J. 


Table  No.  20  shows  that  no  further  inversion  has  taken  place  by 
evaporating  the  sirup  in  the  vacuum  pan.  Only  a  small  number  of 
samples  of  masse  cuite  were  obtained,  since  it  required  a  long  working  of  ' 
the  battery  to  furnish  enough  sirup  for  a  strike.  Moreover,  no  samples 
of  masse  twite  were  taken  until  Mr.  Edson  took  chargeofthe  analytical 
work.  The  data  of  Table  No.  20  are  therefore  not  strictly  comparable 
with  those  of  Table  Xo.  10. 

The  masse  cuites  at  Rio  Grande  were  placed  in  wagons  and  kept  in 
the  crystallizing  room,  at  the  proper  temperature,  for  several  days, 
before  being  sent  to  the  centrifugal  machines.  The  fust  and  second 
sugars  were  thus  obtained  as  one  product. 

By  reason  of  tin'  omission  of  clarification  the  sugar  was  dried  with 
extreme  difficulty.  Indeed  if  was  found  impossible  to  dry  if  so  as  to 
make  a  granular  product.  The  gum,  glucose,  and  other  impurities 
kept  it  in  the  form  of  a  waxy  mass.  A  glance  at  the  data  of  Table  No. 
21  will  show  the  character  of  the  sugar  made.  A  sugar  which  still  con- 
tains 13.08  per  cent,  of  reducing  sugar  would  be  regarded  with  grave 
Suspicion   by  refiners. 

The  character  of  the  sugar  shows    the  necessity  of  careful  defecation 
ami    clarification.     Sorghnm  juices  especially,  when  worked  for  sugar, 
should   DC  as   nearly  neutral   as  possible,  and   great    <'a\<'  Bhould  be  I  \ 
ercised  to  remove   all    the    scums    and    to   allow  suspended    matters    to 

settle, 


27 


Table 

X<>.    21.- 

-Raw  sugars,  Bio  Grande, 

X  J. 

Number. 

Moistnre. 

Ash. 

Glucose. 

Sucrose 
direct. 

Sucrose 
indirect. 

Per  cent. 

Ter  cent. 

i 

Per  cent. 

1 

5326 

4.61 

2.48 

12.12 

80.  3 

82,  1 1 

8327 

6.  74 

3.  75 

16.94 

67.7 

70.  65 

5328 

4.  7H 

2.94 

13.02 

7»;.  o 

77.11 

5330 

6.67 

3.  CO 

14.25 

75.0 

76.88 

5331 

:;.  92 

2.71 

13.23 

69.7 

72.  79 

5332 

5.18 

2.  52 

13.13 

78.8 

5333 

5.11 

2.  83 

13.33 

78.4 

76.  33 

53?4 

5.11 

2.  09 

12.35 

73.8 

71.95 

5359 

0.08 

3.08 

16.  78 

72.  5 

72.  :;!i 

4.41 

2.  00 

13.  98 

78.2 

77.  63 

5367 

5.81 

1.  54 

11.00 

81.0 

79.  77 

5368 

4.77 

1.14 

85.  6 

84.49 

8.40 

1.72 

12.58 

77.  2. 

75.  97 

5396 

5.40 

2.01 

11.75 

80.0 

79.61 

5397 

6.  33 

2.  02 

13.15 

77.73 

Ave) 

5.30 

3.29 

13.48 

79.  2 

7.S.01 

5.51 

2.48 

13.08 

76.9 

76.  93 

The  molasses  made  at  Rio  Grande  shows  the  unusual  phenomenon  of 
a  larger  percentage  of  reducing  sugar  than  of  sucrose.  This  is  chiefly 
due  to  the  fact  that  it  contained  so  large  a  quantity  of  water  that  it  was 
partly  fermented  before  the  analysis  was  made.  The  samples  stood  in 
the  laboratory  from  October,  1887,  to  February,  1S88 ;  and  during  this 
time  suffered  some  inversion. 

No.  5342,  Table  No.  22,  is  an  extreme  instance  of  this  inversion.  No. 
5305  is  also  an  anomalous  sample,  the  data  showing  some  fault  of  anal- 
ysis which  was  not  discovered  until  tbe  tabulation  was  made.  The  pro- 
portion of  sucrose  in  this  sample  is  entirely  too  large. 

For  further  data  concerning  the  composition  of  the  molasses  consult 
Table  No.  22. 

Table  No.  22. — Molasses.  J!i<>  Grande.  X.  -f. 


Number. 

' 

A>h. 

Glucose. 

Sucrose 
direct. 

indirect. 

/'<  T  r,  at. 

Per  '•<  a  f. 

7*'  /■  '•-  n>. 

•' 

P 

' 

41.41 

6.  36 

32.  35 

•jo.  2 

23.74 

30.  n 

6.  17 

26.  6 

5338 

6.  12 

35.  12 

2&  1 

27.92 

5340 

0.  16 

34.68 

25.  4 

27.11 

5:;  ii 

39.  17 

5.31 

32.  70 

23.  o 

5.  4'.t 

39.70 

14.  H 

:!7.  05 

■20.  4 

27.H7 

39.  L2 

2.'.  5 

36.61 

31.65 

33  '.'1 

40.  11 

30.21 

21.1 

23.  4  t 

30.  lo 

1.81 

34.70 

26.-2 

31.53 

31.  05 

A\ .  : 

<;.  50 

26.  6 

29.  lit 

31.31 

5.  46 

3 ■:.  75 

„;.:, 

BECRYSTALL1Z]  i>   SUG  LBS. 

In  order  to  lit  the  raw  sugars  formarkei  Ihej  \\ ere  melted  and  reboiled 
iii  the  vacuum  pan. 

Tbe  composition  of  these  rrcrvstallized  sugars  is  aboul  the  same  as 
seconds  fr<  m  sugarcane.    The  moan  percentage ol  is  90.7,  while 

the  percentage  <>i  gl  maiua  abnormally  bigb< 


28 


The  analyses  of  these  sugars  are  found  in  Table  No.  23. 
Table  N<>.  23. — Recrystdllized  sugars,  I»'i<>  Grande,  X.  J. 


Number.      Moisture.          Ash. 

Glu. 

direct. 

Sucrose 
indirect 

Percent       Percent 

■rnt. 

Pt  r 

Per  cent. 

5430 

4.  12 

.04 

1.84 

92.5 

90.  76 

5431              5. 0  1 

.90 

85.  1 

5432               4.7U 

.91 

6  54 

91.5 

89.6!) 

5433               5  M 

.  32 

8.  60 

92.  5 

91.37 

5434                3. 3t 

.41) 

2.  74 

9a  5 

3.  98 

.83 

5.93 

91.3 

89.  5!) 

5438                5. 33 

1.  11 

6.  26 

86.  57 

5440                3,08 

.07 

4.13 

91.5 

90.31 

5441                 4.20 

.67 

4.  93 

91.2 

90.  08 

5442 

3.85 

.84 

5.  14 

86.  12 

Averages.. 

4.  1G 

.  73 

5.77 

90.7 

89.10 

Table  N 

j.  24. — Xitrogenous  hodia 

in  cane  juice. 

Number. 

Nitrogen. 

Albuminoids. 

1 
Number. 

Nitrog 

Albuminoids. 

/'.  /'  C<  at' 

Per  cent. 

!(  lit. 

/'.  /■  cent. 

276 

.  052 

.  3250 

40? 

.  020 

.  1250 

277 

.  045 

.2813 

413 

.017 

.1062 

27* 

.  058 

.  3025 

431 

.  093 

.5813 

279 

.040 

.  25D0 

471 

.012 

.  0750 

280 

.049 

472 

.017 

.  106 ! 

28.) 

.048 

.3000 

480 

.  1438 

29D 

.01!) 

.3063 

4S1 

.  027 

.  L68H 

292 

.  052 

.  3250 

H7 

.  022 

.1375 

29:5 

.041 

.  2563 

4b  8 

.  025 

.  1503 

Table  No.  25 — Nitrogenous  bodies  in  diffusion  juice. 


Number. 

N  itrogen. 

Albuminoids. 

Pi    cent. 

I',  r  cent. 

282 

.  023 

.143H 

105 

.014 

.  0835 

415 

.013 

.0813 

433 

.051 

.  3375 

4S3 

.010 

.  1000 

Table  No.  26. — Nitrogenous  matterin  diffused  chip  juice. 

Albuminoids. 


Number. 


Nil  rogen 


17.: 

.  006 

.1)12 

i-:i 

.014 

Per  ct  at. 

.  02 

.07:0 


The  most  encouraging  feature  connected  with  the  Rio  Grande  experi- 
ments is  not  found  in  the  composition  of  the  cane  so  much  as  in  the 
quantity  of  it  which  can  be  grown  per  acre.  The  large  tonnage  ob- 
tained enabled  Mr.  Hughes  to  gel  more  sugar  per  acre  with  72  percent 
extraction  than  was  made  al  Fori  Scott  with  93  per  cent.  With  a  good 
extraction  in  the  lottery,  the  yield  at  Rio  Grande  could  have  been  in- 
creased fully  20  per  cent. 


ANALYTICAL  WORK  AT  MAGNOLIA,  LA. 


The  analytical  work  at  Magnolia  was  divided  into  three  classes,  viz: 

(1)  A  study  of  tbe  composition  of  the  juices  from  the  mill  and  a  par- 
tial chemical  control  of  the  operation  of  the  factory. 

(2)  A  complete  chemical  control  of  the  experiments  in  diffusion. 

(3)  Miscellaneous  work. 

The  chemical  work  was  done  chiefly  by  Messrs.  Cramptou  and  Fake. 
During  the  latter  part  of  the  season  Dr.  Cramptou  was  absent,  and  the 
control  work  was  done  solely  by  Mr.  Fake.  The  miscellaneous  work  I 
did  myself,  assisted  part  of  the  time  by  Mr.  Fake. 

The  regular  chemical  work  began  on  the  4th  of  November,  1887,  and 
ended  January  19,  1888. 

In  sampling  mill  juices  a  measured  portion  was  taken  from  each  of 
six  clarifiers,  representing  the  average  composition  of  the  juice  from  IS 
tons  of  cane.  In  comparative  work,  the  samples  were  taken  as  nearly 
as  possible  from  the  same  body  of  juice  in  different  stages  of  concentra 
tion.  The  samples  for  the  diffusion  work  were  taken  as  at  Fort  Scott 
and  I»io  (1  ramie. 

31  ILL   JUICES. 


During  the  first  few  days  of  the  season  the  juices  from  the  mill  were 
run  through  a  sulphur  box,  where  they  were  saturated  with  sulphurous 

dioxide.  They  then  passed  through  a  heater  to  the  elariliers  and  thence 
to  the  quadruple  effect  and  strike  pan  without  the  use  of  animal  char. 
This  method  of  treatment  was  abandoned  after  a  short  trial,  and  no 
further  sulphur  was  used  except  in  one  of  the  diffusion  trials. 

In  Table  No.  27  are  found  the  analytical  data  obtained  during  this 
time. 

Table  No,  27.— Mill  juices  sulphured. 


' 

deducing 

Purity. 

■  



1    

i    . 

1    .      .. 

4 

K 
10 

o 

!•.  K 
'.<  0 

o 
L6.2 

• 
14.41 

13   li 

ill 

1.  14 
1.01 

1. 11 

1.  17 

-  - 

17    1               nil 

1.  "i 
13  JO                in 

30 


A  comparison  of  the  sulphured  and  clarified  juices  was  also  made  J 
bat  the  duration  of  the  use  of  sulphur  was  not  long  enough  to  give  con- 
clusive data.  It  would  appear  from  the  results  of  the  analyses  in  Table 
No.  28  that  the  process  of  clarification  tended  to  lower  the  parity  of 
sulphured  juices  ;  an  apparent  fact  which  more  extended  investigation 
would  probably  modify. 

Table  Xo.  23. — Mill  juices. — Comparative  samples  of  sulphured  and  clarified. 


Date. 

Sulphured. 

Clarified. 

■~ 
s 

= 

& 
- 
ad 

n 

p 

Z 

- 

C 

- 

s 

= 

fa 

v3 

0 

© 

s 

u 

P 

a- 

Xov.  2 

N«>v.  3 

Nov.  4 

4 
6 
10 

o 
8.8 
9.6 
9.0 

0 

15.90 
17.-10 
16.20 

Pr.  ct. 
12.93 

14.41 
13.11 

Pr.  et 

1.11 

1.14 
1.11 

81.  32 
82.81 

80.  92 

5 

7 
11 

o             o 
9.1       16.51 

9.0        17.31 
11.  4        10.  97 

l'r.ct. 

14.31 
L3.56 

/'/■.  Ct 

1  28 
l.lo 
1.20 

80.43 
82.  00 

77.  90 

9.6 
8.8 
9.13 

17.40 

15.  90 

16.  50 

14.41 
12.93 
13.48 

1.14      82.81 

1.11  HO.  92 

1. 12  I 

9.6 

17.31      14.31 
10  51      13.28 
16.93      13.72 

1.28 
1.10 

1.19 

82.  66 

77.  !•(! 
80.  33 



9.1 

9.37 

Means 

The  daily  analyses  of  the  mill  juices  are  recorded  in  Table  No.  29. 
The  variations  in  the  percentage  of  sucrose  were  caused  by  the  charac- 
ter of  the  soil  in  which  the  cane  was  grown.  The  front  lands  gave  uni- 
formly a  cane  richer  in  sucrose  thau  the  low  lands  back  from  the  river. 
Especially  in  new  back  land  with  a  high  tonnage  was  this  deficiency 
noticed. 

The  mean  results  show  a  juice  rich  iu^ucrose,  poor  in  reducing  su< 
gar,  and  of  satisfactory  purity. 

Table  No.  29. — Mill  juices. 


Date. 


Nov.  8... 

Nov.  9   ... 

Nov.  9... 

Nov.  10.... 

Nov.  l'.-.. 

Nov.  12.... 
Nov.  31.... 
Nov.  14.... 
Nov.  15... 
Nov.  10  ... 
Nov.  17... 
Nov.  18... 
Nov.  20... 
Nov.  21... 
Nov.  22.... 
Nov.  23... 

Nov.  26.... 
Nov.    27.... 

Nov.  28 

Nov.  80.... 
Deo.  l  ... 
Deo.     2  ... 

Deo.     ::  ... 

I 


Number. 

Sue- rose. 

o 

o 

/'.  /■  e< "/. 

IS 

8.  9 

16.00 

112.  7.- 

22 

7.9 

11.. -in 

10.85 

-1 

9.1 

16.36 

i.;.:.:. 

20 

8  8 

L5.90 

13.22 

31 

8.0 

10.  io 

12.27 

8  7 

15.07 

12.35 

8.9 

15.97 

12.39 

IS 

8.0 

15.97 

52 

16.83 

13.25 

L6.67 

01 

9.3 

60 

9.  25 

10.73 

71 

9.  1 

16.93 

13.83 

78 

9.  5 

17.10 

l  1  20 

17.  17 

11  M 

'.hi 

10.03 

u  07 

04 

!l    1 

14.00 

Km 

9.  1 

L6.50 

166 

16  ".I' 

1  :    ;i 

111 

s.  :t 

U  97 

12.  13 

HI 

0  i 

16.91 

14.09 

Hi; 

17.  17 

14.40 

L20 

16.  II 

13.90 

i    i 

9.7 

14.74 

l     ; 

I  9 

146 

13.03 

150 

9.1 

16.  n 

18.87 

Reducing 

Purity. 

Per  out. 

1.23 

79.  87 

1.  11 

.  S5 

.  88 

83.  14 

1.06 

.91 

1.  12 

1.  1  ■ 

si.  13 

1  08 

1.18 

61.28 

1.(15 

81.  11 

1.04 

.o:t 

t>3.  27 

B7  "1 

.  00 

si.  50 

.70 

XI.  69 

.  7'.» 

.82 

81.03 

.73 

.78 

.SI 

.  72 

81.22 

HO.  18 

77.(il 

85.  27 

-  ■> 

31 


Table  No.  '20.— Hill  juices— Con  tinned. 


Date. 

Number. 

Baunie. 

Biix. 

Sucrose. 

Reducing 
sugar. 

Purity. 

0 

0 

Per  cent. 

Per  cent. 

Dec.     6.— 

160 

9.0 

16.21 

13.  50 

.75 

83.33 

Dec.      6 . . . . 

lti2 

8.8 

15.93 

13.37 

.70 

83.  30 

!).•.•.     7.... 

166 

9.1 

16.40 

14. 16 

.70 

86.  34 

Dec.     8.... 

168 

8.65 

15.  CO 

12.57 

.93 

80.57 

Dec.     8.... 

172 

8.9 

16.13 

13.  55 

84.  00 

Dec.     9 

174 

8.5 

15.  27 

12.1- 

1.00 

79.  77 

Dec.    10.... 

177 

8.4 

15.24 

12.17 

1.14 

79.  85 

Dec.    12.— 
Dec.   13.... 

219 

8.  3 

15.06 

12.  05 



80.01 

226 

8.15 

14.91 

11.94 

i.oi 

80.01 

Dec   13.... 

Dec.    14.... 

227 

8.30 

14.69 

11.72 

80.00 

230 

8.3 

15.04 

11.84 

.*92*"" 

78.72 

Dec.    14.— 

231 

8.4 

15.11 

12.13 

.87 

80.  27 

Dec.   15.... 

236 

8.15 

14.67 

11.76 

.88 

80.16 

15.... 

238 

8.2 

14.  83 

11.61 

.84 

78.28     ' 

Dec   16.... 

239 

8.0 

14.  39 

11.33 

.94 

78.68     i 

Deo.   17... 

243 

8.0 

14.42 

11.33 

1.  02 

78.57 

I),  c.    17.... 

245 

8.15 

14.69 

11.67 

.99 

79.45 

Dec.   18.... 

246 

8.6 

15.51 

12.31 

1.01 

79.37 

Dec.   18.... 

247 

8.4 

15.24 

12.27 

.97 

80.51 

Dec.   19.... 

248 

8.4 

15.  23 

12.08 

1.16 

79.31 

Dec.    20-... 

8.7 

15.71 

13.61 

.86 

83.00 

Dec    20..-. 

254 

9.2 

16.59 

13.  68 

.69 

82.  45 

Dec.    21.... 

256 

9.0 

16.  23 

13.97 

.64 

86.07 

Dec    21.— 

259 

8.1 

14.57 

11.66 

.78 

80.02 

Dec.    26.... 
Dec.    26.... 

269 

9  3 

16.  ^«i 

14.  54 

86.49 

270 

9^4 

17!  06 

14.78 

--—— 

86.'  63 

27.-.. 

271 

9.4 

17.04 

14.81 

.44 

86.91 

Dee.      27.... 

272 

9.25 

16.73 

14.31 

.  52 

85.53 

Dec.   28.... 

275 

9.4 

17.07 

14.92 

.44 

87.41 

Dec.    28.... 

279 

9.6 

17.  34 

15.09 

.51 

87.02 

Dec.    29.... 

28] 

9.5 

17.23 

15.  32 

.43 

88.91 

Dec   29.... 

9.5 

17.  23 

15.18 

.40 

88.10 

Dec.    30.... 

297 

9.  75 

17  57 

15.40 

.41 

87.  65 

Dec   :i0.... 

300 

9.  4 

17  07 

14.  72 

.  53 

Dee.    31.... 

310 

9.7 

17.47 

1 5.  33 

.47 

87.18 

Dec.  31.... 

316 

9.4 

16.89 

14.  64 

.57 

86.  67 

De,  .      31.... 

326 

9.4 

17.68 

14.75 

.49 

86.34 

Jan.      1 

331 

9.4 

17.09 

14.61 

.68 

•7an.      1.... 

9  25 

16  67 

14   16 

Jan.      2.... 

:.;i 

9.3 

14.87 

"""."k"" 

88.  30 

•fan.      2... 

338 

16.64 

14.59 

.  59 

87.  C8 

Jan.     3  — 

342 

9.4 

17.01 

14.67 

.54 

Jan.      3.... 

344 

9.8 

17.67 

15.55 

.38 

88.  00 

Jan.      4.... 

345 

9.6 

17.44 

15.28 

.44 

Jan.      4.... 

356 

9.  5 

17.19 

1 4  82 

.46 

Jan.      5 

351 

9.  75 

17.59 

15.  33 

.43 

87.16 

Jan.      5 

354 

9.  5 

17.16 

14.92 

.47 

86.94 

Jan.      6 

356 

9.4 

16.  93 

14.82 

.  69 

Jan.      6  ... 

361 

9.C 

17.33 

15.26 

.55 

Jan.      7 

361 

g  t 

16.96 

14.  55 

83.  79 

Jan.      7.... 

365 

17.00 

14  89 

.  59 

Jan.      8 

367 

17.  23 

14.76 

.60 

Jan.      8... 

9.1 

16.49 

13.79 

.70 

83.  57 

•Ian.      1) 

9.5 

17.17 

14.20 

.64 

Jan. 

373 

9.4 

.6.90 

14.41 

Jan.   10 

377 

9  25 

16.66 

13.98 

7-' 

•  Ian.     ID.... 

9.  1 

16.51 

14.02 

J17 

84.90 

Jan.   11.... 

9.0 

it;.  20 

13.  h7 

Ka  61 

Jan.    11.... 

384 

9.3 

16.79 

14.  4S 

Jan.   12.... 

16.66 

1  I.  20 

Jan.     12... 

396 

9.  25 

1.5.7:; 

.  96 

hj   21 

Jan.    13 

m  i  ana  . . . 

396 


9.1 

10.47 

.79 

9.04 

16.  37 

13.  69 

.77 

Maxima  . 

9.  *0 

17.07 

15   .V, 

1 .  5  "1 

Minima. . 

.'.'.'."..... 

7.90 

14.30 

32 

The  clarification  of  tbe  mill  juices  was  made  in  a  simple  manner.  To 
the  juice,  as  it  entered  the  clarifier  from  the  heater,  a  quantity  of  lime 
was  added,  nearly  sufficient  to  neutralize  the  free  acid  present.  The 
whole  was  then  boiled  aud  swept  until  no  more  dirty  foam  was  formed. 
It  was  then  allowed  to  subside  for  half  an  hour,  and  the  clear  juice 
drawn  off. 

The  skimmings  and  sediments  were  sent  to  the  filter  presses. 

The  effect  of  this  method  of  clarification  is  shown  in  Table  30. 

Table  No.  30. — Comparative  samples  of  raw  and  clarified  juices. 


Date. 

Raw. 

Clarified. 

u 

O 

■i 
5 

u 

it 

1| 

■~ 

to 

9 

a 

3 

6 
S 

= 

a 

s 

6 

a 

0 

* 

05 
O 

o 

p 

=   SI 

IS  5 

>> 

3 

fc 

« 

M 

xn 

-  ' 

~ 

fe 

B 

H 

•/. 

- 

Ph 

O 

o 

I'r.rt. 

Pr.  ct. 

o 

0 

I'l.Ct. 

Pr.  ct. 

Nov. 

8... 

19 

8.9 

16.00 

12.  78 

1.23 

79.87 

19 

9.3 

16.79 

13.67 

1.  25 

81.41 

Nov. 

9... 

22 

7.9 

14.  :jo 

10.85 

1.11 

75.87 

23 

8.7 

15.67 

12.  CO 

1.12 

Mi.  41 

Nov. 

10... 

26 

8.8 

15.  90 

13.22 

.88 

83.  14 

27 

9.25 

16.73 

14.  01 

.92 

83.74 

Nov. 

11... 

31 

8.9 

16.10 

12.77 

1.08 

79.  31 

32 

9.0 

16.31 

13.06 

1.12 

80.  07 

Nov. 

12... 

:r> 

8.7 

15.  67 

12.35 

.94 

78.81 

36 

8.9 

16.01 

13.  02 

1.20 

81.37 

Nov. 

13... 

45 

8.9 

15.97 

12.  39 

1.55 

77.58 

46 

8.9 

15.97 

13.19 

1.57 

82.  59 

Nov. 

14... 

4S 

8.9 

15.97 

12.63 

1.42 

79.08 

49 

9  25 

16.68 

12.  94 

1.58 

77.  58 

Nov. 

15... 

52 

8.5 

16.33 

13.  25 

1.15 

81.13 

53 

10.0 

17.98 

14.  87 

1.21 

82.  70 

Nov. 

16... 

55 

8.6 

16.57 

13.20 

1.08 

79.66 

56 

9.5 

17.02 

14.21 

1.04 

83.  49 

Nov. 

17... 

61 

ft  3 

16.83 

13.68 

1.18 

81.28 

62 

10.0 

18.10 

14.  92 

1.21 

82.  4:; 

Nov. 

18... 

66 

'.).  25 

16.73 

13.58 

1.05 

81.11 

(i7 

9.  55 

17.21 

14.37 

1.08 

Nov. 

20... 

74 

9.4 

16.93 

13.  83 

1.04 

81.69 

75 

9.  9 

17.83 

15.13 

1.13 

84.85 

Nov. 

21... 

78 

9.5 

17.16 

14.  29 

.  93 

83.27 

79 

10.1 

18.28 

15.  64 

.95 

85.  55 

Nov. 

22... 

83 

9.5 

17.17 

14.  94 

.  65 

87.01 

84 

9.8 

17.72 

15.  7: i 

.63 

89.  1 1 

Nov. 

23... 

9G 

9.  2 

16.03 

14.07 

.lid 

84.50 

91 

9.5 

17.17 

14.72 

Nov. 

24... 

91 

9.4 

16.  93 

14.00 

.76 

82.  69 

95 

9.9 

17.  93 

15.  25 

.72 

85.  05 

Nov. 

26... 

100 

9.  1 

16.56 

13.79 

.79 

82.  tit; 

101 

9.  75 

17.57 

14.70 

.81 

83.66 

Nov. 

27.. 

106 

9.  25 

16.70 

13.44 

.88 

80.48 

107 

9.6 

17.38 

14.14 

.82 

81.35 

Nov. 

28.  . . 

114 

9.4 

16.91 

14.09 

.73 

83.  37 

115 

9.  65 

17.45 

1 1.  s.: 

.70 

Nov. 

29... 

116 

9.  5 

17.17 

14.  46 

.78 

84.21 

117 

9.8 

17.  7K 

15.33 

.74 

86.  22 

Nov. 

30... 

120 

8.0 

14.41 

13.  yo 

.81 

84.  75 

121 

9.  75 

17.63 

15.20 

.77 

86.21 

Dec. 

1... 

123 

9.7 

17.50 

14.74 

.72 

84.22 

126 

9.  8 

17.  611 

14.72 

.75 

83.  10 

Deo. 

2... 

133 

«...  :. 

1 7.  23 

14.85 

.68 

86.18 

134 

9.  9 

17.79 

15.71 

.  ti.; 

Dec. 

5.. 

156 

9.1 

16.44 

13.87 

.72 

81.86 

157 

9.4 

16.94 

14.53 

.73 

Dec. 

6... 

100 

9.0 

16.21 

13.58 

.75 

83.83 

161 

9.4 

17.03 

1  1    1~ 

.70 

85.  02 

Dec. 

7... 

166 

9.1 

16.40 

14.16 

.70 

107 

9.  1 

16.46 

11.  18 

.  09 

8tl.  14 

Dec. 

8... 

168 

&  65 

15.60 

12.57 

.93 

80.  57 

169 

8.9 

16.07 

13.34 

.  93 

83.01 

Dec.     9... 
Maxima 

174 

8.5 

1 5.  27 

12.  L8 

1.00 

79.  77 

175 

8  9 

16.03 

13.  17 

1.04 

82.  io 

9.  70 

17.50 

14.  94 

1.  55 

87.  01 

10.1 

18.28 

15.70 

1.  58 

89.  1 1 

Mi 

lima  . 

7.  90 

11  50 

10.86 

.  65 

7.\  .-7 

15.97 

12.00 

.  63 

77.  58 

Mi  ana 

9.  02 

16.84 

,94 

82.01 

9.48 

17.  12 

11.:;.. 

.  115 

The  increased  density  of'  the  clarified  juices,  and  the  consequent 
higher  percentage  of  sucrose,  are  due  to  the  evaporation  which  takes 
place  during  clarification.  The  purity  of  the  juices  was  raised  1.75 
points  by  the  process.  A  Blight  destruction  of  reducing  sugars  also 
took  place. 

After  clarification  (lie. juices  were  filtered   through  bone  black.     This 

char  had  been  so  long  in  use  thai  its  decoloriziug  power  was  partially 
destroyed.  It  served,  however,  as  a  most  excellent  mechanical  filter, 
Berving  to  remove  suspended  matter  which  would  not  subside. 


33 

The  purity  of  the  juice  was  raised  nearly  one  point  by  this  filtration. 
A  comparative  study  of  raw,  clarified,  and  filtered  juices  is  given  in 
Table  No.  31. 

TABLE  No.  31. — Mill  juices. — Comparative  samples  of  raw,  clarified,  and  filtered  juices. 

RAW. 


Date. 

Number. 

Baume. 

Biix. 

Sucrose. 

Reducing 
sugar. 

Purity. 

o 

0 

Per  cent. 

Per  cent. 

Nov.    8... 

18 

8.9 

10.00 

12.78 

1.  23 

79.87 

Nov.     9  .. 

22 

7.9 

H.  :;o 

10.  85 

1.11 

75.87 

Nov.   10... 

20 

8.8 

15.90 

13.  22 

83.14 

Nov.  11... 

31 

8.9 

10.  10 

12.  77 

1.08 

79.31 

Nov.  12... 

35 

8.7 

15.67 

12.35 

.91 

78.81 

Nov.  13... 

45 

8.9 

15.97 

12.  39 

1.55 

77.58 

Nov.  11... 

48 

8.9 

15.97 

12.03 

1.42 

79.08 

Nov.  15... 

52 

8.5 

1G.33 

13.  25 

1.  15 

81.  13 

Nov.  10  .. 

•)j 

8.G 

10.57 

13. 10 

1.08 

79.06 

Nov.  17... 

6L 

9.3 

10.83 

13.68 

1.18 

81.28 

Nov.  18... 

06 

9.  25 

10.73 

13.58 

1.05 

81.11 

Nov.  21... 

78 

9.5 

17.10 

14.211 

.93 

83.  27 

Nov.  22  .. 

9.5 

17.17 

14.94 

87.01 

Nov.  23... 

90 

9.2 

10.03 

11.07 

.00 

84.56 

Nov.  24... 

91 

9.4 

10  93 

14.00 

.70 

82.  69 

Nov.  26... 

100 

9.1 

10.  50 

13  79 

.79 

82.  60 

Nov.  27... 

100 

9.  25 

lfi.  70 

13.44 

.88 

80.48 

Nov.  29... 

110 

9.5 

17.17 

14.40 

.78 

84.21 

Nov.  30... 
Maxima. 

120 

8.0 

10.41 

13.90 

.81 

84.75 



9.  50 

17.17 

14.91 

1.  55 

87.01 

Minima . 

7.90 
8.95 

14.30 
10.37 

10.85 
13.31 

.05 
1.00 

75.87 
81.39 

CLARIFIED. 


Date. 

Number. 

Baume. 

Brix. 

Sucrose. 

Reducing 
sugar. ' 

Purity. 

o 

o 

Per  cent. 

JYr  cent. 

Nov.     8... 

19 

9.3 

1G.  79 

13.  07 

1.25 

81.41 

Nov.    9... 

23 

8.7 

15.07 

12.60 

1.  12 

80.41 

N'..v.  10  .. 

27 

9.  25 

10.73 

11.01 

Nov.  11... 

82 

9.0 

10.31 

13.  00 

1.12 

80.07 

N..v.  12     . 

36 

16.01 

13.  02 

1.20 

81.37 

Nov.  13... 

40 

8.9 

1 '..  97 

13.19 

1.57 

Nov.  14... 

49 

;i.  25 

16.08 

12.111 

1.50 

77.58 

Nov.  15... 

53 

10.0 

17.98 

11.-7 

1.21 

82.  70 

Nov.  10 ... 

50 

9.5 

17.02 

14.21 

1.04 

Nov.  17... 

02 

10.0 

10.  10 

1 1.  92 

1.21 

82.  43 

Nov.  18... 

07 

17.  J4 

14.37 

1.08 

83.  35 

Nov.  2]    •- 

79 

1.'.  1 

Nov.  22... 

M 

17.72 

15.7!) 

89.  1 1 

Nov. 

91 

9.  5 

17.17 

14.72 

.01 

85.  73 

24 

95 

9.  0 

17  93 

15.25 

.72 

Nov. 

Itii 

9.  75 

17.57 

11.7.) 

.81 

Nov.  27... 

1U7 

9.  0 

17.  ::8 

11.  11 

Nov. 

117 

9.8 

17.78 

.74 

Nov.  30... 

M.i\im;i 

121 

*  75 

17.  o:; 

15.  -jo 

.  1 1 

10.1 

18.28 

15.  79 

1.  57 

89.11 

Minima 

8.7 
9.50 

15.07 
17.  10 

16.20 

14.30 

1.02 

:j;;;,7i;_13u11  IS- 


34 

FILTERED. 


Date. 

Number. 

Baume. 

Brix. 

Sucrose. 

Reducing 
sugar. 

Purity. 

o 

o 

.' 

Nov.    8.... 

20 

9.4 

10.90 

1 1  00 

1.20 

Nov.   9 

21 

9.0 

16.23 

13.01 

1.12 

80.  10 

Nov.  10..-. 

15.73 

12.  10 

1.01 

78.  7G 

.14 . . . 

:v.\ 

9.  :j 

10  83 

13.62 

L03 

80.  93 

Nor.  12  ... 

37 

9.  1 

16.47 

13  29 

1.  10 

Nov.  13 

-17 

9.2 

1  (i.  50 

13.25 

1.  39 

8.).  01 

Nov.14.... 

17.27 

ia  25 

1.60 

70. 11 

Nov.  1">   . . 

54 

9.  6 

17.38 

15.  16 

1.  L.J 

Nov.  16  .. 
Nov.  17... 

57 
63 

9.0 

17.30 

1 1.  29 

1.  18 

*1.  60 

Nov.  18  ... 

S 

9.8 

17.63 

1 1.  27 

1.  U 

Nov.  21   ... 

10.0 

18.09 

15  50 

.:>1 

Nbv.22... 

8.-. 

li).  2 

IK  39 

16  25 

.51 

88.31 

Nov.  23.-.. 

92 

9.9 

1 7.  87 

1 5.  ti  l 

.:.» 

87  52 

Nov.  24  .. 

06 

Nov.  26  .. 

102 

9.6 

17.30 

14.63 

.77 

81.50 

Nov.27.... 

108 

9.9 

1 7.  90 

1 1.  89 

.7_' 

K:i.  13 

Nov.  29.... 

118 

9.7 

17.  17 

15.45 

.72 

,--4  1 

Nov.  30... 

122 

9.  75 

17.50 

1 5.  on 

.07 

85.77 

Maxima 

in.  2 

18.39 

1G.25 

l.GO 

88.41 

.Minima. . 

9.0 

15.73 

12. 10 

.51 

70.  72 

9.  55 

17.23 

!!.:;:. 

.99 

83.  17 

►Samples  of  the  sirup  issuing  from  the  Yaryan  quadruple  effect  pan 
were  taken  from  time  to  time,  and  the  results  of  the  analyses  of  these 
sirups  are  shown  in  Table  4S.0.  32. 


Table  No.  32. 


Date. 

Number. 

Brix 

corrected. 

Baume' 
corrected. 

rarity. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 
1 

1 

Nov.    3.. 

9 

54  37 

29.  15 

ll  27 

l   18 

Nov.    4.. 

15 

53.  34 

28. 90 

80.4:! 

12.9 

1.88 

Nov.  12.. 

38 

37.  15 

20  53 

80.91 

30.3 

2,  89 

Nov.  IK.. 

09 

50.  90 

27.  70 

K2.  32 

11.9 

Nov.  22.. 

86 

51.50 

28.  00 

14.9 

2.31 

Nov.  23  - 

m 

54.  IK 

29.  in 

85.  40 

2.04 

Nov. :<>.. 

103 

17.01) 

25.00 

76.  05 

:  6  2 

Nov.  28.. 

112 

51.53 

2K.  00 

85.  1 0 

4:;.!) 

2.  50 

Dec,    -.. 

50.  19 

27.  30 

89.  66 

15.  0 

Deo.    1.. 

151 

52.  20 

28.  35 

15  3 

2.  4  1 

Deo.    6 

163 

50.  00 

27.  53 

86.  16 

2.  02 

17ii 

52.  64 

28.54 

15.0 

2.  16 

Dec.   15.. 

237 

!-.  86 

26.  60 

K1.K7 

40.  0 

3.  16 

Dec.  20.. 

25 : 

48.  74 

26.  50 

78  17 

3.  65 

Dec.  22.. 
Deo.  28.. 

280 
276 

46.29 
18.79 

25.  20 

26.  60 

89.  57 

80.  8 

1.86 

Jan.     2 

■si:> 

50.  5fl 

50.02 

27.  50 

14.8 

1.64 

Jan.    i 
Bieani 

346 

27.  40 

14  S 

1.00 

27.  19 

84.45 

2.  75 

The  Samples  of  ma88e  CUttes  were  placed  in  bodies  and  seal  to  the  lab- 
oratory for  analysis.  In  addition  to  the  determinations  of  the  Sucrose 
by  direct  and  double  polarization  it  was  also  estimated  by  copper  solu- 
tion. 

The  mean  result  of  this  latter  estimation  is  slightly  below  the  mean 
ol*  the  direct  readings.      In  individual  cases  a  marked  variation  bet  ween 

the  chemical  and  optical  methods  is  noticed.    The  percentage  of  ash, 
compared  with  sorghum  masse  euites^  is  small. 

For  details  see  Table  N<>.  33. 


35 


Table  No.  33.- 

-First  masse  cuiles 

(mill),  Lawrence 

La. 

Number. 

Moisture. 

Ash. 

Glucose. 

Sucrose 
direct. 

B 

Sucrose 

indirect. 

Sucrose 

by 
copper. 

Per  cent. 

Percent. 

Per  cent. 

Per  cent. 

Per  cent. 

Per  ceJit. 

5715 

9.69 

2.33 

8.06. 

78.70 

78.37 

74.94 

5717 

9.06 

2.05 

8.  75 

77.03 

70.74 

75.  02 

5719 

6.30 

2.  31 

7.03 

81.00 

80.77 

78.58 

5720 

9.12 

2.64 

7.31 

70.50 

74.80 

5721 

8.C5 

2.03 

7.06 

78.00 

77.41 

75.  04 

5727 

17.88 

4.06 

12.36 

70.00 

71.  Ut 

71.48 

5729 

13.51 

2.01 

4.56 

81.30 

80.  CO 

78.  17 

5730 

9.40 

5.53 

75.80 

77.71 

70.78 

5731 

8.52 

2.41 

4.00 

80.50 

81.06 

5734 

10.79 

2.79 

5.91 

74.10 

75.  58 

76.  13 

5740 

7.85 

6.54 

75.90 

76.88 

76.82 

5743 
5748 

8.47 
8.21 

3.96 
2.58 

6.94 
4.79 

80.  7  1 

79.00 

5749 

9.05 

3.10 

5.13 

76.80 

78.45 

78.  40 

5754 

10.71 

2.17 

4.78 

77.10 

78.08 

7,-.  30 

5755 

10.67 

2.  63 

3.65 

80.00 

80.H2 

78.  95 

5762 

10.73 

2.66 

4.  29 

77.70 

79.31 

82. 14 

5763 

9.29 

1.94 

3.98 

79.00 

78.40 

5767 

8.84 

2.14 

3.79 

83.20 

84.31 

70.50 

576s* 

4.26 

82.20 

83.00 

5770 

10.54 

2.12 

4.40 

79.00 

8').  61 

79.38 

5773 

9.03 

2.37 

4.75 

78.10 

79.84 

79. 10 

5776 

9.39 

2.35 

4.83 

79.30 

80.01 

5780 

9.48 

2.48 

5.  28 

78.60 

8D.15 

78.  28 

5783 
Averages  . . 

9.84 

2.50 

5.21 

78.10 

79.54 

70.75 

9  79 

2.53 

5.73 

78.21 

79.05 

77.  40 

87.  63 

The  high  parity  of  the  masse  cuites,  as  shown  in  Table  Xo.  33,  as  com- 
pared with  the  juices  and  sirups,  may  be  accounted  for  as  follows  : 

In  the  latter  the  percentage  of  total  solids  was  calculated  from  the 
readings  of  the  saccharometer ;  in  the  former  by  drying  and  direct 
weighing.  The  results  of  last  season's  work,  both  with  sugarcane  and 
sorghum  juices,  show  that  by  the  use  of  the  spindle  the  percentage  of 
total  solids  found  is  always  too  high.  The  parity  of  the  juices,  therefore, 
is  higher  than  indicated  by  the  analyses.  A  note  on  the  subject  will  be 
made  subsequently. 

The  direct  polarization  of  the  first  sugars  is  given  in  Table  Xo.  34. 

In  these  sugars  there  was  only  a  trace  of  glucose,  but  no  attempt  was 
made  to  estimate  its  quantity,  not  even  by  Soldaiui's  reagent  (carbonate 
of  copper  dissolved  in  acid  carbonate  of  potassium).  For  the  same 
reason  a  double  polarization  was  not  necessary. 


Tabi 

U.— First 

sugars,  Lawrence,  La. 

Sucrose. 

Date. 

No. 

Sucrose. 

N<>\.    1 

14 

97.0 

I 

210 

-JT.ii 

18 

202 

Nov.  11 

280 

70 

•  Ian. 

77 

Jan.    3 

!•:. ;. 

Jan. 

a 

97.0 

.1   HI.      0 

: 

109 

97.6 



Nov.  :'8 

1 

110 

l  IQ 

36 


FIRST     MOLASSES. 


Samples  of  molasses  from  tbe  first  sugars  were  taken  from  time  to 
time  from  the  large  tank  into  which  the  molasses  was  pumped  alter 
issuing  from  the  centrifugals.  These  samples  therefore  represent  fairly 
well  the  composition  of  the  first  molasses  for  the  entire  seasou.  The 
same  remarks  apply  to  the  mean  purity  as  were  made  in  respect  of  the 
purity  of  the  masse  cuites — the  water  in  the  molasses  having  been  de- 
termined by  direct  weight. 

The  mean  determinations  by  the  copper  method  agree  well  with  the 
results  of  double  polarization,  although,  as  in  the  case  of  the  masse  cuites, 
the  individual  deviations  are  large.  The  presence  of  invert  sugar,  op- 
tically active,  is  clearly  shown  by  the  differences  in  single  and  double 
polarization. 

Analyses  follow  in  Table  No.  35. 

Table  No.  35. — First  molasses,  Lawrence,  La. 


Number. 

Moisture. 

Ash. 

Glucose. 

Sucrose 
direct. 

Sucrose 
indirect. 

Sucrose  by 
Fehling. 

5718 
5724 
5728 
5741 
5744 
5745 
5747 
5753 
5700 
5766 
5768 
5772 
5775 
5778 
5781 

Averages. . .. 
Mean  purity. 

Per  cent. 
31.  25 
28.84 
39.65 
29.39 

Per  cent. 
4.32 
3.92 
4.48 
6.12 
8.43 
7.48 
5.64 
4.87 

Per  cent. 
13.65 
14.  23 
16.18 

Per  cent. 
47.  20 
45.  50 
33.00 

Per  cent. 
46.97 
48.21 
33.33 

Per  cent. 
44.89 
46.89 

14.63 
9.43 

32.  30 
46.20 

36.70 
45.34 

34.05 
43.83 

30.70 
29.30 

4.  25 

10.58 

13.34 

8.53 

8.28 

9.80 

'J.  52 

10.05 

54.90 
44.10 
46.20 
55.  50 
5^.50 
53.  90 
55.  20 
55.10 

52.  46 
55.14 
49.77 
58.46 
61.98 
57.  27 
59. 12 
58.85 

48.09 

56.  26 
50.  80 
59.  26 

18.82 
22.95 
20.94 
23.30 
23.  08 
23.27 

7.15 
4.49 
4.52 
5.29 
4.32 
4.8i 

57.72 
58.44 
67.70 

26.79 

5.42 

10.90 

48.28 

51.05 

51.56 
69.73 

SECOND  MASSE   CUITE. 


The  samples  of  second  masse  euitc  analyzed  were  all,  with  one  ex- 
ception, taken  at  the  last  of  the  season,  when  the  juice  was  particularly 
rich  in  sucrose.  They  show  therefore  a  higher  purity  than  the  mean  of 
the  first  molasses.  The  data  in  Table  No.  30*  furnish  a  further  illus- 
tration of  the  fact  that  the  molasses  from  rich  juices  have  a  higher 
purity  than  dial  from  the  poorer  sorghum.  These  facts  are  suggestive 
of  the  idea  that  the  solids  not  sucrose  in  BOrghum  are  less  melassigenic 
than  those  in  sugar  cane. 


37 


Table  No.  36. — Second  masse  cuites,  Lawrence,  La. 


Date. 

Number. 

Moistire. 

As"-    <-        *£* 

Sucrose 
indirect. 

Sucn 
Fchl     . 

Nov.  11 

5722 
576  L 
9764 

5765 
5784 

Per  cent. 
5.49 
10.51 

Per  cent. 
4.  25 

4.08 

Per  cent. 

: 

7.31 
8.30 
5.  92 

Per  cent.       J\r  cent. 
67.10 
6».  20 

"     - 
73. 00 
67.90                 fig  77 

/Vr  ■ 

Jan.      2 

j. in.     f; 

7.15 
7.78 

4.  12 

Jan.    12    

4.48                  9.69 

7.73 

4.23                8.91               69.04               71. 54 

Uean  purity  . 

i 

1 1 ' 

SECOND  Mr  LASSES. 

The  samples  of  second  molasses  were  taken  from  large  cisterns  and 
represent  fairly  well  the  character  of  tins  product  for  the  entire  season. 

The  most  striking  feature  of  the  mean  composition  of  this  molasse  is 
the  purity  co  efficient.  After  two  crystallizations  the  molasses  at  Mag- 
nolia still  had  a  purity-number  only  a  little  below  the  first  masse  cuitc 
at  Fort  Scott,  and  almost  identical  with  that  of  the  first  masse  cuitc  at 
Rio  Grande. 

This  number  shows  the  possibility  of  a  large  yield  of  third  soga 

Table  No.  37. — Second  molasses,  Lawrence,  La. 


Number. 

itare. 

Ghi' 

Sucrose 
direct. 

Su<  - 
indirect. 

tog. 

Nov.    19 

5751 
5706 

Per  cent. 
16.  33 

Per  cent. 
7.15 

I'-  r 

16.60 
13.34 

/'.  r 
4I.7U 

^4.70 

34  84 

Deo.    24   

•Jan.       0    

19.81 

7.10 

L7.29 

45.01 



TaBLI  -Si   ond  sugars,  Lawrmce,   La. 


X  umber. 

Safin 

Per  cent. 

44 

95.  6 

Dee.     - 

171 

-•  a 

•  Lin.      4 

A  \  1 

89.76 



38 


CHEMICAL  CONTROL   OF   THE  DIFFUSION  EXPERIMENTS. 

The  following  data  respecting  the  diffusion  experiments  are  abstracted 
from  Bulletin  17,  pp.  83-89: 

The  first  results  from  the  experiments  were  obtained  from  the  ran  of  December  :>, 

1687. 

The  juice  was  treated  with  .3  per  cent,  its  weight  of  lime,  aud  after  the  precipita- 
tion of  the  lime  with  carbonic  dioxide,  an  amount  of  lignite  equal  to  10  per  cent,  of 
the  weight  of  the  sugar  present  was  added. 

The  juice  filtered  readily  through  the  presses,  forming  iirm,  hard  cakes.  The  filtered 
juice  was  treated  with  phosphate  of  soda,  15  pounds  of  this  salt  being  added  for  each 
5,000  pounds  of  juice. 

The  phosphate  produced  an  abundant  floccnlent  precipitate,  which  filtered  easily 
through  the  twin  filter  presses,  giving  a  juice  of  remarkable  limpidity.  The  masse 
cuite,  however,  was  dark,  and  the  molasses  much  inferior  in  color  to  that  made  by  the 
use  of  bone-black  and  ordinary  clarification. 

The  phosphate  of  so;la  did  not  produce  as  favorable  results  as  had  been  expected, 
and  its  farther  use  was  discontinued. 

Following  are  the  data  obtained  in  the  first  run  : 

Table  No.  39.-— First  diffusion  run,  December  [I,  18& 


Total 
solids. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

Juice  from  chips : 

Per  ct. 

14.45 

15.45 

; 

12.01 

1 1 .  02 

Per  cent. 

.  96 

1.00 

1.02 

Third 

15.03 

12.  26 

.90 

Diffusion  juice : 

First 

10.88 
10.40 

8.88 
8.  05 

.8:? 

.74 

10.64 

8.70 

.78 

Exhausted  chips: 

.51 
.70 
.01 

.7:; 

11.  00  I          9.  20 

.70 

51.80          42.20 

4.".  o,) 
01.01) 

76.  30 

11.11 

Pounds. 

The  i "i;. i  mi -,ii  in  i lie  cane  at  00  pei  cent  juioe  vrai  

or  tli  is  thei                    ried  140.1  pounds  at  07.60 nit 

a  i.i  I'M  pounds al  dm;  

Total  pure  sucrose  obi  lined 181.  i 

Leftin         •                      .     14.6 

Total  lofl  hi  inola  noHund  losl  in  manufacturing      24. '.) 


lie  third  sugar  will  not  be  dried  until  In  MavorJuni 
.  «•  been  made  by  We.  B.  C>  Barthelemj 


The  estl 


39 


EXTRACTION. 

The  percentage  of  sucrose  left  in  the  spent  chips  was  .73. 
11.03  per  cent.  The  per  cent,  of  extraction  is  therefore  11.03- 
100  =  93.4. 

SECOND   TKIAL. 


Sucrose  in  cane  was 
.73  =  10.30 -H  11.03  X 


Another  trial  was  made  of  the  diffusion  machinery,  beginning  December  9.  Car- 
bonatation  was  again  used,  but  without  lignite  or  any  farther  treatment.  The  juice 
passed  directly  from  the  filter  presses  to  the  double-effect  pan. 

The  quantity  of  lime  employed  was  .G  per  cent,  the  weight  of  the  juice.  The  filtra- 
tion was  perfect.  The  experiment  was  remarkable  in  showing  that  a  perfect  defeca- 
tion can  be  made  with  carbonatation  with  a  much  smaller  percentage  of  lime  than 
had  been  supposed  necessary. 

The  ynossc  cuite  was  dark,  but  the  sugar  a  fair  yellow. 

Following  are  the  data  of  the  run  : 

Table  No.  40.— Second  diffusion  run,  December  9,  1887. 


S2S.  s— 


Fresh  chips: 

First  sample  . . 
Second  sample 
Third  sample. 
Fourth  sample 
Fifth  sample  .. 


Average 


Diffusion  juice: 
First  sample  . . 

Hid  sample 
Third  sample.. 

i  th  sample 
Fifth  sample  .. 


Per  ct. 
14.06 
15.65 

15.70 
35.50 
14.00 

14.98 


Per  cent. 
11.70 
13  64 
13.62 
13.02 
11.18 


12.  Gl 


9.  36 

8.G7 
!)  68 

10.40 
10.20 


7.61 

a  4.-. 


Glucose. 


Per  cent. 
1.04 

.75 

.81 
1.02 


.67 

.58 

.78 


9.CG 


96 


G9 


Carbonatated  juioe: 

)1  sample     9.12 

Second  sample 8.74 

Third  sample 10.  2<> 

Fourth  sample 11.40 


9.  86 


ited  chips : 
First  sample  . 
•1  sample 
Third  sample 
Fourth  samph 
Fifth  sample  . 


7.73 

9.00 


8.  16 


.61 


1.58 
L69 

.48 

.40 


A verage 


Semi-sirup 

in  -i  sugar 

a  firsts 
Second  Bugar 


72.1(1 


42.40 
87.30 


Yield  of  Qrst  sugar  per  ton pounds.. 

Field  of  sec 1  Bugar  per  ton do  -  - . 

Cane  used tons.. 

The  total  sugar  in  the  cane  at  90  per  cent,  iuioe  vras     per  ton.. 

Of  these  tin  re  wrere  obtained  128  pounds  at  96.6 

A  i, 1 1  43  pounds  at  87.3  

Total  pure  sucrose  obtained p 

Pure  sncTose  lefl  in  chips 

Pure  soorose  lef(  In  molasses  and  lost  In  manufacture  

I  hi nl  sugar  estimated    do.... 


Pcrcentagi 


ar  in  <•  ine  «v  • 


The   poor  yield    was  dno  to  nso  of  thick  chips  during  the  firal    pari  of  the  run, 
Musing  a  low  of  1.6  p<  i  cents  suerose  in  the  chips, 


40 


THIRD  TRIAL. 

Ill  this  run  the  use  of  carbonatation  and  lignite  was  discontinued.  The  diffusion 
juices  were  treated  with  sulphur  fumes  until  well  saturated.  They  were  then  treated 
with  lime  and  clarified  in  the  usual  way. 

The  clarification  took  place  readily.  The  quantity  of  scums  was  very  small,  and 
the  sediment  subsided  rapidly,  forming  a  thin  layer  on  the  bottom  of  tho  tank,  per- 
mitting the  clear  liquor  to  bo  easily  and  completely  drawn  off.  The  juice  passed  at 
once  from  the  clarifiers  to  the  double  effect  pan  and  subsequently  received  no  further 
purification. 

Following  are  the  analytical  data  obtained  : 

Table  No.  41.— Tkird  diffusion  run  December  10  and  11,  1888. 


Fresh  chips : 

First  sample  .. 
Second  sample. 
Third  sample.. 


Average. 


Diffusion  juice  : 
First  sample. 
Second  sample 
Third  sample. 


Average. 


Sulphured  juice: 
First  sample... 
Second  sample. 


Average. 


Clarified  juice : 
First  sample... 
Second  sample. 

Thiid  sample. . 


Average. 


Exhausted  chips: 

First  sample... 

end  sample. 

Third  sample. 

Fourth  sample. 


Average. 


Semi-sirup 

First  sugar 

i  first  sugar. 


Total 
solids. 


Per  ct. 
14.39 
12.77 

14.49 


13.88 


9.42 
9.41 
9.55 


9.46 


9.69 
P.  12 


Sucrose. 


Per  cent. 
11.88 
10.63 
12. 06 


11.53 


7.82 
7.87 
7.80 


7.85 


8.17 
7.53 


9.40 


=|i 


7.  8."> 


9.  95 
9.89 
10.32 


10.05 


41.70 
"72."  90 


8.21 
8.00 
8.39 


8.22 


84  m 
08.  30 

36.70 


Glucose. 


.79 

.77 
.80 


.78 


.62 
.59 
.67 


83 


.58 


2.87 


12.07 


First  sugar  per  ton , pounds..    143 

N amber  tons  cane  used no 

The  molasses  from  the  first  BUgar  was  boiled  to  Btring  proof,  and  put  in  wagons. 
A  good  crystallization  of  second  sugar  was  secured  but,  the  molasses  having  been  left 
too  acid,  a  good  separation  was  not  seemed.  Mr.  Barthelemy  therefore  decided  to 
reboil  the  molasses  with  some  of  the  product  of  the  mill  process,  and  therefore  no 
statement  of  the  quantity  of  second  sugar  can  be  given.  H  was  estimated  at  30 
pounds  per  ton. 

The  cane  from  which  this  run  was  made  was  grown  on  new  bach  land  and  was  the 
poorest  of  t  he  \\  hole  season. 

The  percentage  of  sugar  extracted  of  total  sugar  In  cane  vras  92.80. 

.ill    I  rial. 

[n  this  run  the  diffusion  juice  was  treated  with  lime  until  almost  neutral.     It  was 

then  boiled,  skimmed,  and  allowed  to  set  I  lo.    The  scums  and  sediments  were  of  small 
volume  ami  were  all  returned  to  the  battery. 


41 

The  juice  received  no  other  treatment  whatever  for  clarification.  It  was  converted 
to  sirup  in  a  double  effect  vacuum  pan.  The  capacity  of  this  pan  was  not  quite  great 
enough  to  evaporate  the  juice  as  fast  as  furni.shed  by  the  battery.  For  this  reason 
the  run  which  might  have  been  linished  in  two  days  occupied  a  part  of  a  third  day. 
The  quantity  of  cane  worked  was  200  tons. 

The  following  is  a  record  of  the  analytical  data  obtained : 

Table  No.  42.—  Fourth  diffusion  run,  December  29,  30,  and  31,  1887. 


Juices  from  fresh  chips  : 

A.  M.,  first  day 

P.  M.,  first  clay 

Midnight,  first  day  ... 

A.  M.,  second  day 

Midnight,  second  day. 

A.  M.,  third  day 

P.  M.,  third  day 


Average  fresh  chip  juice  for  run. 


Diffusion  juices: 

First  sample,  first  day 

Second  sample,  first  day... 

Third  sample,  first  day 

Fourth  sample,  first  day .  -  - 
First  sample,  second  day  . . 
Second  sample,  second  day. 
Third  sample,  second  day- . 

First  sample,  third  day 

Second  sample,  third  day  .. 


Average  diffusion  juice  for  run. 


Clarified  juices: 

Average  for  first  day 

Average  for  second  day  ., 
First  sample,  third  day  .. 
Second  sample,  third  day 
Third  sample,  third  day  . 


Average  clarified  juice  for  run 


Juices  from  exhausted  chips: 

First  sample,  first  day 

S.cond  sample,  first  day  ... 

Third  sample,  first  day 

Hi  st  sample,  second  day. . . 
Second  sample,  second  day. 
Third  sample,  second  day.. 
1  list  sample,  third  day.'... 
Second  sample,  third  day.. 

Third  sample,  thud  day"... 


exhausted  chip  juice  for  run. 


:  up  for  first  strike 

Masse  cuito,  first  strike 

First  sugar  from  first  strike  

First  molasses  from  first  strike 

Semi-Sirup  for  .second  strike 

I  uite 

First  sugar 

.I  second  strike 

Am  rage  extraction 

Pounds  fust  rogar  per  ton 

Per  i  cut  sugar  extra*  U  d  obtained  in  Brsts. 


Total, 
solids. 


Per  ct. 
16.46 
17.27 
17.26 
17.13 
16.97 
16.19 
16.26 


16.79 


9.72 
10.09 
11.38 
11.60 
11.10 
10.92 
10.94 
10.45 
10.87 


10. 


10.75 

11.77 
12.01 
11.  CI 
11.25 


Sucrose. 


11.48 


Glucose. 


Per  cent 
14.23 
15.33 
15.12 
14.84 
14.93 
13.90 
14.05 


37.37 


7fi.  22 
40.00 


79.00 


14.  60 


8.71 
9.01 
10.  16 
9.31 
9.87 
9.69 
9.77 
9  31 
9.69 


50 


Per  cent. 
.49 

.43 
.43 
.45 
.54 
.61 
.50 


0.34 

10.36 

10.30 

9.78 

9.  51 


9.87 


.83 
1.12 
.72 
.95 
1.09 
L30 
1.10 


!il 


33.10 
81.20 
9S.  40 
51.80 
35.  l" 


93.  K 
165.5 


.49 


39 


36 


7.  76 
1.19 


ton  pounds 

Third  sugar  per  ton  (estimated) do  ... 

Case  used t<>n* 


*  On  February  29  I  was  in  funned  l.y  |.  n.  r  from  Governor  Warmotb  thai  the  third  sugars  (run  id* 
fourth  run  !i  id  boon  di i<  I  md  weighed,  yielding  3,723  pound  I,  or  18  8  pounds  per  too. 


42 


FIFTH    TRIAL. 

The  fifth  ami  last  run  of  the  diffus  j  wasbegnn  on  January  14  and  finished 

on  the  18th.  This  trial  was  made  after  the  milling  work  had  been  completed.  The 
diffnsionjuices  were  treated  precisely  the  same  way  as  the  mill  juices  had  been,  and 
after  passing  over  bone-black  were  concentrated  to  sirup  in  a  Yaryan  «viadmple  effect, 
which  has  been  in  use  with  the  mill  juices  during  the  manufacturing  season. 

The  working  of  all  the  machinery  during  this  final  trial  was  satisfactory,  and  the 
even  march  of  the  whole  work  promoted  the  efficiency  of  the  machinery  ami  the  suc- 
cessful manipulation  of  the  juice. 

Table  No.   A3.— Analytical  data  of  fifth  run. 


So. 

Brix. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

No. 

Brix. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

Fresh  chips  : 
397 

o 
16.87 
16.39 
16.  39 
17.(9 
16.86 
17.16 
10.93 
17.00 
10.70 
16.79 
17.19 
10.73 
17.11 
16.17 
16.17 
10.60 
16.63 
10.77 
16.23 
10.03 
16.  07 
16.81 
16.37 
16.51 
10.  94 
16.57 



Per  cent. 

14.23 
13.45 
13.79 
11.7.1 
12.11 
14.73 
14.06 
14.  50 
13.93 
14.11 
14.17 
14.19 
14.  55 
13.48 
13.43 
13.99 
14.39 
14.28 
13.29 

1 3.  79 
13.35 
14.34 
13.54 
14.17 

14.  38 
14.  52 

Per  cent. 

74 
.87 
.89 
.68 

.75 
.04 
.70 
.01 
.73 
.74 
.61 
.59 
.01 
.75 
.70 
.63 
.05 
.03 
.77 
.76 
.  85 
.64 
.82 
.70 

.  or. 
.03 

Diffusion  juices— 
continued. 
450 

o 

9.88 
10.87 

9.89 
10.67 
10.47 
10.17 
10.15 
10.31 
10.59 

9.  69 

Per  cent. 
8.  12 

9.00 

Per  cent. 
.4? 
.38 
.45 
.61 
.72 
.48 
.48 
.47 
.  52 
.61 

400 

403... 

453 

405... 

460 

408 

406 

8.41 
8.01 

7.  86 
7.  92 
8.26 
7.53 

411... 

409 

4'4  . 

473            

417  .. 

470. 

420  

479 

423  .. 

485 

426 

491           

4°9 

Maximum  . 
Minimum.. 

437 

9.  28 

7.53 
8.41 

.72 

.31 
.47 

440 

443... 

Exhausted  chips: 
399 

449 

.52 
.21 

.32 
.52 

.41 
.33 
.42 

.  ia 

.  12 
.50 
.  50 
.42 
.40 

.51 
.  12 
.39 
.  13 
.51 

!  18 

452 

459 

402 

465  .. 

407 

468 

410 

472    .. 

413 

475  . 

410 

478 

484  

490 

Maximum  . 
Minimum.. 

419  



422 

4  ."  .. 

4'  8 

14.73 
12.  1 1 
13.98 

.89 

.  59 
.70 

431 

439 

4  42   

Diffusion  juices: 

398.... 

40; 

404 

41)9 

412 

415   .. 

11.37 
10.  07 

10.61 

11.01 

10.91 
10.71 
10.0.". 
10.  :.7 
10.52 
10.65 
10.27 
10.73 
10.88 
9.5 

445 

9.28 

<S.  00 

8.  92 

a  53 

9.  10 

8.77 

8.  51 
H.  90 

9.  05 
8.46 

8.  1)9 
7.68 

.60 
.64 
.  49 

.41 
.45 
.48 
.  10 

.40 
.  II 
.  10 

.3'. 
.45 
.  12 

.::t 

4I.S 

45]   

454 

461 

467  ... 

470 

471 

418  . 

477 









Maximum  . 
Minimum  . . 
Mean 



.69 
.21 
.44 

•Ill 

411        

447... 

The  molasses  from  the  Bret  sugars  being  very  rich,  the  method  of reboiling  to  grain 

mployed.    To  this  end  the  molasses  of  the  firsl  Btrike,  having  been  reduced  to 

55  to  60  per  cent,  of  tot;il  solids,  was  boiled  on  u   nucleus  of  first  Bugar  left  in  tin* 

pan  from  the  second  strike.     In  this  way  all  the  molasses  was  boiled  to  grain  with 

most  gratifying  results  except  thai  from  the  last  Btrike  of  the  first  sugars, 

The  attempt  to  l>oil  t  his  to  grain  did  not  succeed  in  giving s  maweouiU  whioh  could 

be  dried  with  ease.    The  molasses  running  from  the   machines  was  so  thick  that  it 

red  them  np.    Seven  large  sogar  wagons  were  filled  with  this  material  and  set 

in  the  hot   room. 


43 

The  sugars  made  were  equal  incvery  respect  to  those  obtained  by  milling  in  simi- 
lar instances.  Without  counting  the  second  sugar  above  named,  the  grained  sugar 
per  ton  amounted  181.5  pounds.  The  grained  sugars  in -wagons  will  yield  not  less 
than  7,500  pounds,  or  18  pounds  per  ton. 

The  third  sugars  are  estimated  by  Mr.  Barthelemy  at  not  less  than  1G  pounds  per 
ton. 

The  total  yield  per  ton  of  the  fifth  run  will  reach  therefore  215.5  pounds  per  ton. 
The  number  of  tons  of  cane  used  was  417. 

Table  Xo.  44. — Summary  of  results. 


Sugar 

Mean 

Mean 

erained 

Xuinber  of  lun. 

sucrose 

glucose. 

iupanper 

1U  juice. 

in  juico. 

ton.  First 
sugar. 

Tons. 

. 

. 

Pounds. 

1 

80.3 

12.  'JO 

.99 

146.1 

2 

9J.0 
110.0 

200.0 
417.0 

12.  61 

11.53 
14.  GO 
13.98 

.78 
.49 

.70 

128.0 
143.  0 
105.  5 
181.5 

3 

4 

5 

"Wagon  sugar  per 

ton. 

Total 
sugars 

Second 

Third 
timated). 

per  ton. 

Pounds. 

Pounds. 

Pound*. 

40.1 

201.  2 

4:;.0 

18 

189.0 

30.0 

12 

185.0 

45.9 

18 

229.4 

18.0 

10 

215.5 

MASSE   OTJITES,  SUGARS,   AND   MOLASSES  FROM  THE  DIFFUSION  Rl 

Following  are  the  data  of  the  analyses  of  the  masse  cuites,  sugars,  and 
molasses  from  the  diffusion  runs. 

In  Table  No.  45  are  the  results  of  examination  of  samples  afforded  by 
tlie  first  (1  illusion  run. 

Tabu  . — Fust  run,  juices  a  th  sodium  phosphate. 


X... 

Moisture, 

Glucose. 

Sucrose 
direct        Indirect 

Sucrose 
Feuling. 

cuite 

' 

I 

Tl.ln 

A  \  era  ;ea 

2.  79 

o.:.i 

2.  79 

5.91 

7  7.:.  i 



44 


Table  No.  46. — Carbonatation,  second  run,  diffusion,  Laurence,  La. 


No. 

Moistuie. 

Ash. 

Glucose. 

Sncrose 
direct. 

Sucrose 
indirect. 

Sucrose 

by 
Fehfing. 

First  masse  cuite... 

5735 

Per  cent. 
9.53 

Percent. 
3.90 

Per  cent. 
6.21 

10.50 

Per  cent. 
75.7 
42.4 
96.6 
87.3 

Per  cent. 
76.  22 

Per  cent. 
70.94 

First  sujjar 

5J37 
6762 

.58 
3.23 

.48 
2.  88 

Second  sugar 

1.36 

80.49 

84.20 

Table  No.  17. — Juice  suljrfiurcd,  third  run,  diffusion,  Lawrence,  La. 


No. 

Moisture. 

Ash. 

Glucose. 

Sucrose 
direct. 

Sucrose 
indirect. 

Sucrose 

by 
Fehling. 

Masse  cuite 

Molasses 

5736 
5739 

5738 

Per  cent. 
8.42 
34.04 
.46 

Per  cent. 

3.79 

7.53 

.82 

Per  cent. 
6.79 

12.  07 

Per  cent. 
73.9 
36.7 
96.3 

Per  cent. 
76.19 

rer  cent. 
76.58 

Table  No.  43. — Fourth  run,  clarification  by  lime,  diffusion,  Lawrence,  La. 


Number. 

Moisture 

Ash. 

Glucose. 

Sucrose 
direct. 

Sucrose 
indirect. 

575G 
5759 

Percent. 
9.42 

!l.  27 

Per  cent. 
2.63 
2.57 

Per  cent. 

Percent. 
77.40 

Per  cent. 
78.48 

9.35 
24.  01 

.27 

2.00 

5.  28 
.32 

77.40 
51.80 
98.4 

78.48 

5758 
0757 

7.77 

Table  No.  49. — Fifth  run,  juices  uonc-llaclccd,  diffusion,  Lawrence,  La. 


No. 

Moisture. 

Ash. 

Glucose. 

Sucrose 

direct. 

Snorose 
Indirect. 

Sucroso 
by 

Fehling. 

First  masse  cuite.. 

57*7 
5790 

Per  cent. 
8.83 
10.08 
12.04 

Per  cent. 

2.47 
3.49 

Per  cent. 

4.  ;;<; 

4.24 

1 

70.  8 
76.  5 

7:;.  7 

Per  cent. 

78.  77 
7."..  88 

/Vr  r>  lit. 
7:..  1 1 

10.  52 

2.81               4.62 

76.6            7S.2) 

7.x.:::! 

I •  ii.-d  molasses 

5791 

BL67 

C,  71 

39.0 

41.98 

41.  11 

4:>.  7;> 

43.82 

42.  79 

43.  92 

38.01 

i  68 

10.  51 

44.80 

48.51 

77.2.1 
53.14 

Second  masse  cuite 
Second  molaasi-n... 

6792 
5793 

10.21 

7.  60 

7.  (Hi 
15.80 

43.81 

24.  33 

1 1. 80 

41.9 

47.  52 

49.48 

The  second  molasses  from  the  fifth  run  of  diffusion,  on  account  of  the 
crowded  condition  of  tin'  sugar-house,  could  not  be  kepi  separate  from 
the  mill  products,  it  will  be  1 1 < >t i <-« *« l  thai  this  molasses  was  still  ex« 
oeedingly  rich  in  sucrose. 


45 

The  apparent  percentage  of  sucrose  is  as  high  as  in  the  first  molasses, 

but  this  is  due  to  the  much  higher  content  of  water  in  the  latter  prod- 
uct. 

Nevertheless  the  sugar  yield  would  still  be  very  large  to  reduce  the 
third  molasses  to  the  relative  proportions  of  sucrose  and  glucose  con- 
tained in  the  sample  from  the  Calumet  plantation,  sent  by  W.  J.Thomp- 
son, the  analysis  of  which  will  follow. 

In  view  of  this  exceeding  richness  it  would  seem  that  the  estimated 
yield  of  third  sugars  from  the  ruu  given  in  Bulletin  17,  viz,  15  pounds 
per  ton,  is  entirely  too  low.  This  yield  would  doubtless  have  been  fully 
30  pounds  per  ton. 

While  the  chemical  control  of  the  diffusion  experiments  has  proved 
reasonably  satisfactory,  yet  there  remain  many  points  of  interest  which 
can  only  be  determined  by  more  extended  investigations. 

Among  these  may  be  mentioned  the  marked  oxidizing  power  of  the 
bone  black  on  diffusion  juices.  These  juices  on  reaching  the  bone-char- 
filters  were  as  nearly  neutral  as  possible.  On  issuing  from  the  fil- 
ters they  were  intensely  acid,  and  were  again  treated  with  lime  before 
a  second  filtration.  Diffusion  juices  have  proved  to  be  much  more 
amenable  to  treatment  for  clarification  than  our  first  experiments  with 
diffusion  applied  to  sorghum  indicated.  A  simple  treatment  of  the  juice 
with  lime,  careful  skimming  and  subsequent  precipitation  of  the  sedi- 
ment in  settling  tanks,  appears  to  be  all  that  is  necessary  to  make  a 
fine  article  of  raw  sugar,  either  with  sorghum  or  sugar  canes. 


SUMMARY  OF  DATA  FOR  FOUR  YEARS  AT  MAGNOLIA. 


BY   G.    L.    SPENCER. 


The  crop  of  1887  was  in  many  respects  a  remarkable  one.  In  the 
early  spring  the  cane  was  considerably  larger  than  in  average  seasons. 
The  stand  was  unusually  good.  Favorable  rains  and  exceptionally 
good  weather  permitted  a  very  thorough  cultivation.  The  rows  were 
well  shaded  before  the  1st  of  July.  All  these  favorable  conditions 
united  to  make  this  crop  the  best  in  the  history  of  the  plantation.  Mag- 
nolia seemed  to  be  especially  favored.  When  the  fields  above  and  ou 
the  opposite  side  of  the  river  were  too  wet  for  cultivation  those  of  Mag- 
nolia  were  in  the  best  possible  condition. 

The  following  is  a  brief  resume  of  the  growing  seasons  of  the  four 
years  since  the  establishment  of  the  Magnolia  station  : 

Season  o/1884. — The  spring  weather  was  favorable  and  continued  so 
until  the  1st  of  June,  then  followed  a  period  of  wet  weather  lasting 
until  August,  which  was  a  very  dry  month.  September  and  October 
were  favorable  to  the  ripening  of  the  cane.  During  the  rolling  season 
there  were  frequent  and  heavy  rains.  The  tonnage  was  good,  and  the 
quality  of  the  cane  excellent. 

Season  of  1885. — Exceptionally  wet  weather  continued  through  the 
early  part  of  this  season.  The  rainfall  from  April  to  July  was  limited 
to  two  or  three  showers.  There  were  frequent  rains  in  August  and 
September.  The  rest  of  the  season  was  exceptionally  cool  and  dry.  A 
severe  wind  storm  in  September  completely  prostrated  the  cane.  The 
wet  weather  in  September  and  the  wind  storm  damaged  the  cane  very 
materially.     The  tonnage  was  large. 

Season  of  18&6>—  In  January  a  freeze  of  remarkable  severity  threatened 
damage  to  the  stubble.  Small  crops  were  predicted  for  the  next  season. 
The  crop  was  small,  but  the  shortage  was  not  attributable  to  the  results 
of  the  freeze. 

February,  March,  and  April  were  cold  and  wet:  consequently  the 
cane  obtained  a  Late  start.  May  was  dry  and  cool;  June  and  July  were 
too  wet  to  permit  <>r  proper  cultivation;  August  was  dry  and  exceed- 
ingly hot.  These  adverse  Conditions  all  tended  to  stunt  the  cane.  Al- 
though the  start  was  good  the  tonnage  was  small.  The  juice  was  ex- 
ceptionally rich  and  pure. 

46 


47 

Season  of  1887. — The  cane  obtained  an  early  start.  The  weather  was 
favorable  throughout  the  season.  The  crop  was  but  little  damaged  by 
the  heavy  wind  storms  in  August  and  October.  The  tonnage  was  ex- 
ceptionally large  and  the  juice  excelled  in  richness  and  purity. 

It  may  be  seen  from  the  above  resume  that  two  of  the  seasons  were 
very  favorable,  one  of  these  exceptionally  so. 

The  following  table  of  averages  shows  the  quality  of  the  juices  for 
the  four  seasons : 


Season. 


Degree  Brix 

Percent,  sucrose — 

Per  cent,  glucose 

Co-efficient  of  purity 


1884. 

18S5. 

1886. 

1887. 

16.54 

13.  05 

.67 

78.69 

15.80 

12. 11 

1.02 
76.64 

16.20 

13.  50 

.61 

8:3. 33 

16.37 

13.69 

.77 

83.48 

The  quality  of  the  cane  in  1885  was  exceptional.  The  proportion  of 
glucose  is  considerably  above  the  average  for  the  four  seasons.  The 
percentage  of  sucrose  is  low.  The  analyses  for  this  season  show  fully 
thirty  pounds  less  available  sugar  present  than  those  for  18S7. 

A  comparison  of  the  analyses  of  juices  for  the  seasons  of  1880  and 
1887  shows  that  they  were  of  almost  exactly  the  same  average  quality, 
although  in  the  latter  season  the  tonnage  was  about  twice  that  of  188G. 
Many  planters  considered  it  impossible  to  obtain  a  very  large  tonnage 
and  at  the  same  time  a  rich  cane. 

The  yield  and  quality  of  the  cane  in  1887  indicate  that  a  large  cant' 

does  not  necessaril}'  carry  a  weak  juice.     On  the  contrary,  some  of  the 

heaviest  cane  on  Magnolia  was  the  richest,  containing  about  15.5  per 

cent,  sucrose  in  the  juice.     All  this  cane,  including  the  heaviest,  was 

quite  ripe. 

Wouk  at  Magnolia  Plantation. 

;>  0/1837-83.* 
Tons  of  cane 13,  344 

Acres  plant-cane -  275 

Acres  first  year's  stubble 242 

Acres  second  year's  stubble 

Total 604 

Average  tonnage  per  aore  

Total  weight,  first  Bugai pounds..     1,6! 

Total  freight,  grained  seconds do 

Total  weight,  wagon  seconds do 

Total  weight,  third  sugars do 21  I,  178 

Total  weight,  all  Bugara do.... 


•Averages  for  entire  crop,  including  diffusioo  work. 


48 


Average  yield  of  sugar  per  ton  of  cano pounds. 

Per  cent,  of  yield,  sugars 

Total  gallons  of  molasses 

Total  pounds  of  molasses,  at  11^  pounds  per  gallon 

Per  cent,  of  yield  of  molasses 

Per  cent,  of  yield  of  masse  cuite  (i.  e.,  sugar  and  molasses) 

Pounds  sugar  per  acre 

Pounds  molasses  per  acre 


181.  43 

9.  072 

58,  350 

671,025 

2.514 

11.566 

4,008.3 

1,110 


Magnolia  Plantation. 
Crop  of  1887-'88.*— Diffusion  work. 

Tons  of  eaue  worked 913 

First  sugar pounds..  121,9(54 

Second  sugar,  grained do 31, 704 

Second  sugar  wagons do 15,935 

Third  sugar  wagons 14,653 

Total  sugar 184,316 

Average  yield,  first  sugar,  per  ton pounds..  133.58 

Average  yield,  second  sugar  grained,  per  ton do 34. 17 

Average  yield,  second  sugar  wagons,  per  ton do 17.  46 

Average  yield,  third  sugar  wagons?  per  ton do 16.05 

Total  sugar  per  ton  of  cane 201.26 

Percent,  of  yield 10.063 

Magnolia  Plantation. 
Crop  1887-'88. 


Tons  of  cane  rolled 

E  xti  action,  per  cent 

Pounds  1st  sugar  per  ton  cane.. 
Pounds  2d  sugar  por  ton  cano  .. 
Pounds  3d  sugar  per  ton  cano  . . 
Total  sugar  per  ton  cano,  lbs . . . 


First 
period. 


494 

78.60 
101 

84 

16.05 
151.  05 


Second 
period. 


2,201 
79.  02 
*  132.  80 
8 

10.05 
150.  85 


Third 
period. 


2,244 

79.  01 

139.  94 

36.36 

16.05 

192. 35 


Fourth 
period. 


2,260 

78.46 

123.50 

29.  00 

16.05 

109.  15 


Fifth 

period. 


806 
79 
122.70 

40.  50 

10.  06 

179.  25 


Sixth 
period. 


3,966 

79.30 

•144.60 

41.00 

16.05 

202.  15 


Total. 


12,  131 

78.81 

138.81 

26.  06 

16.05 

179.93 


Includes  grained  seconds. 


Magnolia  Plantation. 


Crop  of  IS&I-'m.—Mill  work. 

Total  tons  of  cano  rolled 

Pounds  of  juice 19, 

Extraction  per  cent  cano 

First  sugar Pounds..      1, 

Second  Nugar  grained do 

Second  sugar  wagon do 

Third  sugar  wagon do 

Total  sugars do 2, 

Average  first,  sugar  per  ton  cane do 

average  teOOnd  sugar  grained  per  ton  cano do 

Average  second  sugar  wagon  per  ton  cane do 

"Average  of  all  the  cine  worked  l»y  dill'usion. 


12, 431 
636, 068 

7  8. 

94 

537, 

LS6 

188, 

720 

311, 

334 

199 

525 

236 

7;;;> 

66 

L5. 

L8 

25.  06 

49 

Average  third  sugar  wagon  per  ton  cane * pounds..  16.05 

Average  total  sugar  per  ton  cane do 179. 93 

Per  cent,  of  yield,    sugars 8. 996 

SPECIAL   ANALYTICAL   WORK. 

Several  problems  were  presented  during  the  progress  of  the  work  at 
Magnolia  for  solution.  It  is  difficult  to  get  time  during  the  progress 
of  manufacture  to  study  such  special  problems  ;  as  much  time,  how- 
ever, as  I  could  take  from  the  general  supervision  of  the  work  was  given 
to  this  special  analysis. 

COMPARISONS   OF   DIRECT    AND   INDIRECT  POLARIZATION. 

If  sorghum  and  cane  juices  were  composed  alone  of  a  solution  of  su- 
crose, the  quantity  of  this  substance  could  be  determined  at  once  by  a 
direct  polarization  ;  unfortunately  for  the  simplicity  of  chemical  manip- 
ulation, such  is  not  the  case.  These  juices  contain  other  substances  which 
are  optically  active.  In  sorghum  juices  especially  we  find  large  quanti- 
ties of  substances  present  other  than  sucrose,  which  have  the  power  to 
affect  the  polarized  ray. 

In  cane  juices  the  substances  which  tend  to  produce  right-handed  ro- 
tation are  soluble  starch,  so-called,  and  its  derivatives,  dextrine  and 
dextrose. 

Of  the  substances  tending  to  produce  left-handed  rotation  at  ordinary 
temperatures  may  be  mentioned  invert  sugar  and  certain  nitrogenous 
bodies. 

Were  these  left-handed  and  right-handed  bodies  present  in  neutral- 
izing proportions  they  would  have  no  effect  upon  the  polariscopic  de- 
terminations of  the  sucrose,  but  such  is  not  always  the  case;  hence,  a 
direct  reading  on  the  polariscope  of  sugar  juices  can  not  always  be  re- 
lied upon  to  give  exact  data  concerning  the  proportion  of  sucrose  pres- 
ent. 

In  the  case  of  juices  the  variation  may  not  be  marked,  but  after  con- 
centration a  direct  polariscopic  reading  of  the  masse  cuite,  or  molas 
may  prove  very  erroneous. 

To  determine  the  magnitude  of  this  variation  in  the  juices  of  sirups 
and  molasses  from  sugar  cane,  the  following  analyses  were  made. 

In  Table  No.  50  are  found  data  relating  to  clarified  juices. 

These  samples  were  taken  with  the  greatest  care.  The  measurements 
were  made  in  tared  flasks,  with  a  weighed  quantity  of  the  juice,  and 

all  of  the  analytical  operations  conducted  with  the  greatest  precautious. 
It  will  be  seen  by  consulting  the  mean  data  of  the  table  that  the  per- 
centage of  sucrose  was  increased  from  1  1. k9,  the  direct  reading,  to  1  1.07, 

the  percentage  given  by  the  polariscope  after  inversion.  The  mean 
quantity  of  sucrose  is  increased  by  about  one-third  of  the  percenta 

the  reducing  sugar  present. 
L>:;;>7o— Hull  IS 1 


Table  No.  50. — Single  and  double  polarization  of  mill  juices,  Magnolia. 


Sii  _ 
Number,    polarization 
sucrose. 

Invert            Temper- 
polarization,         ature. 

Sucrose 
by  doable     Increase. 

polarization. 

Glucose. 

Per  a  nt. 

1  14.7 

2  12.75 

3  15. 53 

4  13.75 

5  13. 02 
(i                  13. 95 

7  16.45 

8  15. 58 

9  16. 23 
1')                    16.18 

11  14.80 

12  12.73 

—  4.84 

—  4.39 

—  4.75 

—  4.90 

—  4.4.! 

—  4.35 

—  5.  23 

—  4.57 

—  4.  98 

—  4.90 

—  4.68 

—  4.18 

—  4.  95 

°C. 

24.0 

23.0 

25.  5 

23.0 

21.5 

27.0 

29.0 

31.0 

31.25 

27.0 

28.0 

Per  ft  ut. 

14.  i'O                 0.  20 
12.92                0.17 

Per  c<  nt. 

15.  40 
14.07 
13.09 
14.02 

16.74 

16.  52 
15.  40 

14.  !)9 
12.  84 

-  0.07 
0.  32 
0.07 
0.07 
0.29 
0.  26 
0.  29 
0.  22 
0.19 
0.  11 

.53 
.40 
.36 
.47 
.  12 
.53 
.  56 
.57 
.64 
.56 

13 
Averages 

13.65 

13.  93 

14.49 

14.  67 

.50 

Iii  Table  Xo.  51  is  given  the  single  and  double  polarization  of  sirups 
derived  from  the  juices  in  Table  No.  50. 

The  same  precautions  were  taken  in  the  selection  of  samples  and  in 
the  analytical  manipulation  as  iu  the  preceding  table. 

The  increase  in  the  percentage  of  sugar  on  double  polarization  in  the 
case  of  the  sirups  is  equivalent  to  about  one-half  of  the  percentage  of 
glucose  present.  It  will  be  noticed  in  Table  No.  50  that  there  are  nu- 
merous examples  of  a  like  proportionate  increase.  In  sample  No.  3,  in 
Table  No.  50,  there  is  an  actual  loss  of  sucrose,  the  second  reading  being 
.07  less  than  the  first.  This  result  was  doubtless  due  to  some  error 
which  all  the  precautions  taken  could  not  avoid. 

TABLE  No.  51. — Single  and  double  polarization  of  sirups  from  mill  ju> 


Number. 

Single 
polarization. 

Double 
polarization. 

Temper- 
ature. 

Sucrose. 

Increase. 

Glucose. 

i 

ut. 

o 

0  O. 

!'■  i  c<  nt. 

Pcrci  nt. 

4 

41. Ot 

—  17.49 

26.  o 

15.07 

5 

4.-».  25 

—  16.  23 

23.  0 

46.40 

1.  15 

1.89 

(i 

1 ! .  50 

—  15.  13 

19.0 

42.  27 

0.77 

1.  19 

7 

4::.  oo 

—  14.28 

26  5 

43.  81 

0.  SI 

1.  11 

8 

—  14.58 

2a  ;"> 

0.  49 

1.  28 

9 

45.  53 

—  14.71 

46.  63 

1.  10 

1.63 

10 

—  13.28 

31.25 

13.  1!) 

1.04 

1.51 

11 

—  14   30 

45.  62 

0.77 

1.76 

12 

—  13.  Bl 

27.  (i 

0.  19 

1.92 

I 

3!).  98 

—  13.26 

40.  53 

L.  81 

43.00 

.79 

1.55 

In  Table  No.  52  are  found  the  data  of  polarizations  of  various  samples 

of  molasses  taken  at  different  times  during  the  season.  Unfortunately, 
in  only  three  eases  was  the    percentage  ol'glueose  determined.      In  these 

eases  the  increase  on  double  polarization  is  equal  to  almost  half  the  per- 
centage of  glucose  present  The  mean  increase,  however,  viz,  8.30  per 
cent.,  would  probably  not  have  been  mucn  greater  than  one  third  of  the 
mean  percentage  of  glucose  present  in  the  molasses. 


51 

Table  No.  52. —  Differences  between  single  and  double  polarizations  of  molasses. 


Number. 

Single 
polarization. 

Polarization 

after 

inversion. 

Temper- 
ature. 

Sucrose. 

Increase. 

1 
Glucose. 

1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
G 
7 
8 
9 

Averages 

Per  cent,  su- 
crose. 
46.0 
45.  5 
25.1 
45.  8 
28.2 
27.1 
36.9 
38.0 
35.7 

—  24.  2                   20. 

Per  cent. 
52.4 
51.2 
36.7 
51.6 
39.04 
37.9 
45.3 
45.7 
43.1 

6.4 

5.7 

11.6 

5.8 

10.81 

10.8 

8.4 

7.7 

7.5 

Per  cent. 

—  23.1 

-  24.1 

-  20.4 

—  23.7 

-  23. 54 

—  23.  32 

-  22.33 

—  21.78 

20. 

20. 

23.5 

22.5 

21.0 

22.  0 

24.0 

21.0 

25.25 

23.90 
16.60 

36.48 

44.  77 

8.30 



1 

Description  of  samples.— No.  1,  sample  of  first  molasses;  No.  2,  sample  of  first  mo- 
unple  of  third  molasses;  No.  4,  sample  of  first  molasses;  No.  5,  sample 
of  third  molasses;  No.  (5,  sample  of  third  molasses;  No.  7,  sample  of  second  molasses; 
No.  B,  sample  of  second  molasses;  No.  9,  sample  of  second  molasses. 

Iii  Table  Xo.  53  are  found  the  analyses  of  some  samples  of  molasses 
sent  by  Mr.  W.  J.  Thompson,  of  Calumet  plantation.  In  these  samples 
we  have  again  the  remarkable  illustration  of  the  error  into  which  the 
analyst  would  fall  who  would  rely  upon  a  single  polarization  alone.  As 
a  check  upon  the  results  the  sucrose  was  determined  also  with  an  alka- 
line copper  solution.  The  percentage  obtained  in  this  way  agrees  re- 
markably well  with  that  got  by  double  polarization. 

In  these  eases  the  total  increase  is  a  little  less  than  one-third  of  the 
amount  of  glucose  present. 

Table  No.  ">:}. — Composition  of  third  molasses. 
[Furnished  by  W.  J.  Thompson,  Calumet  plantation,  Tatterson,  La. J 


No. 

Sei  i.d 

number. 

inc. 

Asl). 

Sucrose 

Sucrose 
indirect. 

Sucrose 

by 
copper. 

Albumi- 
noids. 

Glucose. 

1 

~: 
4 

.VJ18 
5!>1<> 
5!>20 
5921 

28.15 

25.  30 

9.  35 

7.01 

Per  cent. 

17.45 
17.  15 

Per  cent. 

1 

26.  14 

26.  19 

1.97 

Per  cent. 

30.07 
31.31 

Tabli    '•  -Composition  of  third  mo/omm,  average  sample  from  Magnolia  plan- 

tation. 


No. 

ui'v 

3 
direct 

BaoroM 

indirect. 

by 
copper. 

Albuiui- 

1 

■ 

! 

•' 

1 

Aside  from  the  larger  quantity  of  water  in  the  third  molasses  from 
Magnolia,  the  ohief  difference  between   the  Oalamel    and    .Magnolia 


52 

samples  is  found  in  the  smaller  percentage  of  reducing  sugar  in  the  lat- 
ter. 

These  results  with  the  sugar-cane  juices  show  that  when  single 
polarization  alone  is  practiced  the  real  percentage  of  sucrose  can  be 
approximately  obtained  by  adding  to  the  direct  reading  one-third  of  the 
percentage  of  glucose  present. 

The  results  also  show  the  preponderance  of  lsovo-gyratory  imparities 
in  cane  juices. 

The  left-handed  disturbance,  however,  is  greater  than  would  be  ex- 
pected from  the  amount  of  invert  sugar  present. 

We  would,  therefore,  conclude  that  the  albuminous  matters  present 
are  also  active,  or  that  in  the  reducing  sugar  naturally  contained  in  the 
juice  there  is  a  preponderance  of  lsevulose. 

In  sorghum  juices  I  have  shown  in  a  previous  publication  that  the 
differences  between  direct  and  double  polarization  are  not  so  great. 
This  is  due  to  the  fact  that  in  sorghum  there  is  a  large  portion  of  so- 
called  soluble  starch  and  dextro-gyratory  bodies. 

STUDY  OF  INVERSION  IN   THE  YARYAN  QUADRUPLE  EFFECT. 

To  determine  the  invertive  effect  of  concentrating  the  juices  in  the 
Yaryan  quadruple  effect  pan,  a  series  of  careful  analyses  of  entering 
juices  and  issuing  sirups  was  made.  The  samples  were  taken  in  the 
following  way,  viz:  From  the  feed-box  of  the  Yaryan  apparatus  a 
measured  sample  of  the  juices  was  taken  every  two  minutes  for  thirty 
minutes;  four  minutes  after  taking  the  first  sample  of  juice  and  every 
two  minutes  thereafter  for  thirty  minutes  a  measured  sample  of  the 
issuing  sirup  was  taken.  After  mixing  the  samples  of  juice  and  sirup 
were  subjected  to  analysis.  It  will  be  seen  that  by  the  above  method 
t he  samples  of  juice  and  of  sirup  were  strictly  comparable.  In  each 
case  the  sample  for  analysis  was  weighed  out  and  made  up  to  a  stand- 
ard volume  in  a  tared  flask.  The  analytical  manipulations  were  con 
ducted  with  every  possible  precaution. 

The  results  of  the  work  are  given  in  Tables  Nos.  54  and  5~>. 


Table  No 

54. — Test  for  invasion  in   ) 

'(iri/nn  nuii.  --(  Inriftnl  jnici 

Eteduoing 

Reducing 

Purity  on 

Purity  on 

Sucrose 

to   100  of 
sue  lose 
direct 

tion. 

BUgan 

Total 

solids. 

polai  i/.;i- 

indirect, 

polarisa- 

direct, 
polariza- 

direct 
polariza- 

Roduoing 

to    LOO  sn 

oroaeindi 

tlon. 

tion. 

tion. 

tion. 

reol  po 

/•-  /■  .•-  ni 

i.n  Lzatioo 

l887-'88 

Per  (■•  ni. 

I'll-  Ci  lit. 

1 

i :..  <r, 

Il.o7 

.  10 

2.91 

2.84 

2 

14.63 

89*61 

13.02 

'J.  7."> 

'2.  7"» 

8 

I  - •  II-      1 

i  r>.  m 

II.' 

.47 

4 

ran. 

i 

92.  (in 

L6.  ,1 

2.61 

0 

Jan.    <; 

i .  1 1 

80.73 

92.  28 

if,  84 

.  63 

:;   10 

3.  30 

II 

I. in.     7 

DO.  52 

.  Mi 

8.44 

3.  39 

7 

■Liu.    E 

81.56 

1 5.  1  H 

.67 

3.  7f> 

3.  70 

8 

•  Ian.      '.i 

16.78 

>-H.  'JO 

it  88 

.64 

4.33 

4.'J7 

0 

Av 

■  Jan.    lo 

uraget 

14,  is 

8J.  77 

'jn.;,:, 

12.  7:i 

.50 

1    II 

4.37 

10.33 

89.54 

90.  G8 

14.  G3 

.50 

3.45 

3.39 

Table  No.  55. — Siruj)s. 
[Dates  and  numbers  correspond  to  comparative  samples  in  above  table.  1 


1 

2 
3 

4 
5 

G 

7 
8 
9 

Dec.  28 
Dec.  28 
Jan.    4 
Jan.     5 
Jan.     G 
Jan.     7 
Jan.     8 
•J  an.     9 
Jan.  10 

51.23 
40.  70 
49.02 
50.  "J  4 
51. 1G 
47.  GO 

88.33 
88.87 
87.72 
92.  7G 
88.99 
88.55 

90.60 
90.51 
89.35 
93.73 
91.14 
90.74 

45.  25 
41.50 
43.00 
46.88 
45.  53 
42.15 
44.85 
42.  85 
39.98 

46.40 

42.  27 
43.81 
47.  37 
4G.G3 
43.19 
45.62 

43.  04 
40.53 

1.39 

1.19 
1.44 
1.28 
1.03 
1.51 
1.76 
1.92 
1.81 

3.07 

2.87 
3.35 
L'.  73 
3.59 
3.57 
3.92 
4.48 
4.53 

3.00 

2.82 
3.28 
2.70 
3.  50 
3.  50 
3.86 
4.46 
4.47 

48. 83 
45.22 

87. 7G             88.15 
88.41             89.  G3 

Av 

erages . 

48.79 

88.92 

90.48 

43.55 

44.32 

1.55 

3.57 

3.51 

Any  inversion  which  would  take  place  in  the  process  of  concentration 
would  be  indicated  by  an  increase  in  the  ratio  of  reducing  sugar  and 
sucrose. 

In  the  entering  juices  the  mean  ratios  are  as  follows,  viz: 

By  direct  polarization,  3.45  parts  reducing  sugar  to  100  of  sucrose. 

By  double  polarization,  3.39  parts  reducing  sugar  to  100  of  sucrose. 

For  the  issuing  sirups  the  ratios  are  as  follows  : 

By  direct  polarization,  3.57  parts  reducing  sugar  to  100  of  sucrose. 

By  double  polarization,  3.51  parts  reducing  sugar  to  100  of  sucrose. 

It  will  be  seen  by  the  above  numbers  that  the  inverting  effect  of  the 
Yaryau  pan  is  practically  nothing.  It  amounts  to  only  one-tenth  of  a 
pound  to  100  pounds  of  sugar  made  or  2  pounds  to  the  ton  of  sugar. 

ANALYSES  OF  BAGASSE. 

Sixteen  determinations  were  made  at  various  times  during  the  sea 
sion  of  the  quantity  of  water  and  sugar  in  the  bagasse.  The  samples 
were  taken  as  follows :  From  time  to  time  during  fifteen  to  twenty  min- 
utes a  handful  of  the  bagasse  issuing  from  the  mill  was  taken  and  placed 
in  a  covered  vessel.  These  samples  were  then  thoroughly  mixed  to- 
gether and  a  portion  taken  for  analysis.  Small  quantities  of  bags 
were  taken  from  the  selected  portion  and  cut  into  very  fine  chips. 
Weighed  portions  of  those  chips  were  then  dried  at  105°  C,  and  weighed 
for  the  determination  of  moisture. 

For  the  determination  of  sucrose,  weighed  portions  of  the  baga 
were  extracted  in  a  marked  stoppered  bottle  for  two  hours  at  the  tem- 
perature of  boiling  water.     After  cooling,  the  contents  of  the  bottle 
were  poured  in  a  mortar  and  thoroughly  rubbed  up  with  a  pestle.    The 

sucrose  was  determined  in  a  filtered  portion  of  the  liquid,  due  allow- 
ance being  made  for  the  volume  occupied  by  the  fiber  of  the  cane.  The 
results  of  the  analyses  are  given  in  Table  Nb. 56. 


54 


Table  No.  56. — Composition  •/  bagasse. 


No. 

Date. 

Water. 

Sucrose. 

No. 

Date, 

Water. 

Sucrose. 

1888. 

Per   cent. 

Per  cent. 

1888. 

Per  cent. 

Per  cent. 

1 

Jan.     4 

52.  GO 

8.  58 

10 

Jan.     8 

54.99 

7.50 

2 

Jan.     4 

52.87 

7.59 

11 

Jan.      9 

55.08 

7.95 

3 

Jan.     5 

52.99 

8.10 

12 

Jan.     9 

54.  G9 

7.65 

4 

Jan.      6 

53.89 

8.19 

13 

Jan.   10 

53.59 

7.44 

5 

Jan.     6 

52.  51 

7.73 

14 

Jan.   10 

55.88 

6.88 

6 

Jan.     6 

51.69 

8.00 

15 

Jan.   11 

56.71 

7.74 

7 

Jan.      7 

53.12 

8.07 

16 

Jan.   11 

56.78 

7.95 

g 

J  in       7 

7  95 

9 

Jan.      8 

53.  97 

7.35 

Averages 

54.00 

7.79 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  mean  percentage  of  the  water  in  the  bagasse 
was  ol  and  the  sucrose  7.79.  It  appears  from  the  above  analyses  that 
the  bagasse  contains  water  other  than  that  in  the  sugar  j  nice  of  the  cane. 
This  fact  is  also  shown  by  the  following  phenomenon. 

If  a  sugar-cane  be  passed  through  a  small  mill,  the  top  entering  the 
mill  first,  drops  of  water  will  be  seen  to  issue  from  the  butt  of  the  cane 
as  it  approaches  the  rolls ;  if  this  water  be  tasted  it  will  be  found  to  be 
free  from  sugar.  It  appears,  then,  from  the  analyses  of  the  bagasse  and 
the  phenomenon  just  related  that  the  sap  in  the  circulatory  organs  of 
the  cane  is  entirely  different  from  the  sugar  juices  stored  in  its  cells. 

ESTIMATION    OF   TOTAL    SOLIDS  BY  HYDROMETERS  AND  BY  ACTUAL 

WEIGHT. 

Attention  has  already  been  called  in  this  bulletin  to  the  error  which 
may  arise  from  estimating  the  total  solids  in  sugar  juices  and  sirups 
from  the  specific  gravity  as  determined  by  a  hydrometer. 

In  Table  No.  57  is  given  a  comparison  of  the  results  obtained  in  esti- 
mating the  total  solids  in  cane  juices  by  careful  drying  in  a  flat  dish 
partly  filled  with  sand.     The  method  of  procedure  was  as  follows  : 

A  flat  platinum  dish  was  filled  about  two-th  irds  full  of  pure  dry  sand 
and  weighed;  from  a  weighing  bottle  about  2  grams  of  the  cane  juice 
was  placed  on  the  sand,  and  the  exact  amount  taken  obtained  by  re- 
weighing  the  weighing  bottle. 

The  dish  was  now  dried  at  100°  until  the  moisture  was  nearly  all 
driven  off,  and  then  for  a  halt*  an  hour  at  105°.  In  each  case  the  amount 
of  total  solids  as  given  by  the  Brix  saccharometer  was  greater  than  that 
obtained  by  actual  drying.     The  mean  increase  was  .56  per  cent. 

Table  ?>7.  — Comparison  of  total  *<>lids  h\j  spindle  ami  dniiiuj  on  sand. 

UK  I  9 


Xo. 

drying. 

spindle. 

No. 

drying. 

By 

spindle. 

1 
'J 

3 
4 

0 

7 

1888. 
Jan.  4 
Jan.  6 

.luii.  e 

Jan.  o 
Jan.  7 

•  Ian.  7 
.I.in.  B 

L6.81 

17.  17 

17.03 

10.71 

1 1..  07 

18.64 

.  12 

1  i 

w 
0 

10 

11 
12 

.l.m.  H 
.Ian.  !> 

Jan   D 

.l.m  l" 

.Ian. 10 

10.7:. 
n  18 

17.28 

17.  17 
17.80 
i  8.06 

11.   M 

.47 

.7!> 

07 

*  !G.r»7  1       17.18 

.06 

55 

Table  58,—SinqJs. 


Jan.  4 
Jan.  5 
Jan.  G 
Jan.  7 


48.54 
50. 5 1 
50.  85 
47.60 


49.02 
52.72 
51.82 

48.64 


.48 
2.18 

.97 
1.04 


Jan.  9 
Jan.10 


Av'age. 


48.83 
45.22 


48.60 


50.  22 
46.76 


1.39 
1.54 


1.27 


111  Table  58  the  same  comparison  is  made  with  simps.  In  order  that 
the  simps  might  not  occlude  moisture  a  less  quantity  was  taken  than 
of  the  juices,  so  that  the  total  solid  residue  might  be  the  same.  The 
mean  increase  in  the  case  of  sirups  as  determined  by  the  Brix  spin- 
dle was  1.27  per  cent.  With  sugars  aud  molasses  enough  alcohol  must 
be  added  to  the  dish  containing  the  sand  and  samples  to  dissolve  the 
latter  thoroughly  and  distribute  them  evenly  through  all  parts  of 
the  sand.  Not  being  quite  satisfied  with  the  result  obtained  by  the 
method  given  above,  I  tried  the  device  of  using  paper  coils  for  the  ab- 
sorption of  the  juices  whose  total  solids  were  to  be  determined. 

The  manipulation  was  as  follows  :  A  piece  of  thick  filtering  paper  40 
centimeters  in  length  aud  5  to  8  centimeters  wide  was  rolled  into  a  coil 
and  tried  at  105°.  While  still  hot  it  was  placed  in  a  dried  weighing  tube 
and  carfnliy  stoppered.  When  cold  it  was  weighed  together  with  the 
tube. 

About  2.5  grams  of  the  juice  is  now  placed  in  a  small  beaker  cov- 
ered with  a  watch  glass  and  weighed.  One  end  of  the  coil  is  dipped 
into  the  beaker  and  held  there  until  the  juice  is  absorbed.  By  means 
of  the  dry  end,  the  coil  is  transferred  to  the  air  bath,  placed  in  an  up- 
right position  with  the  wet  end  up  aud  dried  for  two  hours  at  100°. 
While  still  hot  it  is  again  placed  in  the  weighing  tube,  and,  when 
cold,  weighed. 

By  reweighing  the  beaker  and  the  cover  the  weight  of  juice  taken 
is  accurately  determined.  The  increase  of  weight  of  the  coil  gives  the 
total  quantity  of  solid  matter  present  in  the  weight  of  juice  taken. 
This  method  was  introduced  so  late  in  the  season  that  only  a  few  trials 
of  it  were  made,  but  they  were  eminently  satisfactory.  The  results  are 
given  in  Table  No.  59  : 

TABLE  No.  59 — Total  solids  by  drying  on  paper  coils. 
MILL  JUIl 


\o. 

Data 

'l  otal solid*. 

Total  solids 
l>y  ipindle. 

Total  solids 
1>\  sand. 

1 
:! 

4 
1 

1884. 
Jan.   n 

Jan.    12 

Jan.   13 
Jan.   17 

16  22 

15  M 
15.42 

it;,  to 

10.07 

Vtr  cent. 
16.05 
16  16 

15.86 

1G.54 

56 

Table  No.  59— Tola!  solids  by  drying  on  paper  ooih— Continued. 
DIFFUSION  JUICES. 


1 

2 
3 

Averages 

Jan    1G 
Jan.    17 
Jan.    17 

10.10 
9.80 
9.57 

11.37 
10.  G7 
10.47 

9.82 

10.84 

As  in  the  case  of  drying  iu  sand,  the  amount  of  solid  matter  found  in 
juice  is  uniformly  less  than  was  indicated  from  the  reading  of  the 

spindle. 

EFFECT   OF   TREATMENT    OF    MOLASSES  WITH    SUPERPHOSPHATE    OF 

LIME   AND   ALUMINA. 

It  is  the  custom  in  the  sugar-houses  of  Louisiaua  to  dilute  the  molasses 
and  treat  it  with  superphosph  ate  of  lime  and  alumina,  or  other  chemi- 
cals, before  rcboiling  it  for  sugar.  To  determine  the  eflect  which  this 
treatment  had  upon  the  molasses,  the  analyses  which  are  recorded  in 
Table  No.  60  were  made. 

Table  No.  GO. — Treatment  of  molasses  with  supcrphospnate  of  lime  and  alumina. 
MOLASSES  BEFORE  TREATMENT. 


No. 

Total 
solids. 

Purity, 

direct 

polariza- 

tJOD. 

Purity, 
indirect 
polariza- 
tion. 

Sucrose, 

direct 
polariza- 
tion. 

Sucrose, 
indirect 
polariza- 
tion. 

Glucose. 

Glucose 
per  100 
sucrose. 

Glucose 
per  100 

sucrose, 
indirect. 

1 
2 

Pr.  ct. 
65.  59 
61.72 

7i.no 

71.29 

77.50 
70.17 

Per  cent. 
4G.  75 
44.00 

Per  rent. 
50.80 
47.01 

Percent. 
G. 33 
5.71 

Percent. 
13.55 
12.  9G 

Per  cent. 
12. 47 
12. 1G 

MOLASSES  AFTER  TREATMENT. 


1 

2 

63.86 
60.45 

72.70 
72.01 

70.80 
75.89 

41.30 
43.53 

48.91 
45.88 

6.17 
5.43 

13.33 
12.43 

12.  G4 
11.84 

REMOVED  SKIMMINGS. 


1 

2 

67.03 
G4.  09 

77.20 

78.90 
7!».  15 

51.70 

52.90 

51.20 

G.71 
G.  17 

12.97 
12.  G5 

12.68 
12.  03 

The  table  is  divided  into  three  parts,  the  first  being  the  analysis  of 
the  Lasses  before  treatment;  second,  analysis  after  treatment;  and 

third,  the  analysis  of  tin'  removed  skimmings. 

In  the  three  cases  the  numbers  refer  t<>  the  same  sample.  It  is  quite 
difficult  t<>  secure  the  same  density  in  each  ease,  and  comparison  should 
be  made  with  the  ratio  of  the  reducing  sugar  to  the  sucrose.    Prom  this 

it  Is  seen  that  the  skimmings,  which  were  removed  and  which  were  sup- 
posed to  be  gum,  Were  nothing  but  air-bnbbh 


s,  surrounded  with  a  film 


57 

of  molasses.    It  is  difficult  to  see  any  beneficial  result  attending  the 
treatment  in  question. 

EFFECT  OF  DIFFERENT   METHODS   OF   CLARIFICATION. 

Id  order  to  determine  the  amount  of  organic  matter  removed  by  dif- 
ferent methods  of  clarification  the  following  experiments  were  made: 
Weighed  samples  of  mill  juice  were  treated  with  subacetate  of  lead 
until  no  farther  precipitation  took  place.  The  precipitate  was  then 
thoroughly  washed  with  hot  water  until  all  excess  of  lead  was  removed 
and  then  dried. 

Similar  treatment  was  given  to  the  same  jnice  after  clarification  by 
lime  in  the  usual  way,  after  filtration  through  lignite,  and  after  single 
carbonatation.     The  results  are  recorded  in  Table  Xo.  Gl. 


TABLE  No.  61. — Effects  of  different  methods  of  clarification. 


Haw. 

Clarified. 

Lignite. 

Carbonated. 

Weight  of  lead  precipitate  : 
December  20, 1887,  grammes 
December  21,  1887 

2.1919 
2.2901 

G2.  08 
06.01 

13.08 
13.78 

.07 
.11 

81.75 

85. 34 

1.  94.32 
2.1515 

52.43 
09.31 

13.45 
14.01 

.07 
.07 

82.50 
80.  32 

1.7085 
2. 1930 

69.  53 
71. 08 

15.12 

15.  02 

.03 

1.2725 
1.7058 

71.68 
71.52 

13.99 
14.74 

.06 

P«  cent  of  lead: 

December  20, 1 8S7 

December  21.  1887 

Sucrose,  percent  : 

December  20, 1887 

December  21,  I8s7 

Albuminoids,  per  cent: 

December  20, 1 887 

l>.  comber  21,1887 

.0:J                .03 
84.38            R">  r.r 

Parity : 

imber  20, 1887 

December  21,1887 

84.71 

88.58 

It  is  seen  that  the  weight  of  the  dried  precipitate  is  in  every  case 
greatest  in  the  raw  juice  and  least  in  that  which  had  been  subjected  to 
single  carbonatation.  The  parity  of  the  juice  was  increased  least  In- 
ordinary clarification,  next  by  filtration  through  lignite,  and  most  of  all 
by  carbonatation. 

In  regard  to  the  removal  of  albumen,  filtration  through  lignite  ap- 
pears to  be  the  most  efficacious  method. 

Carbonic  dioxide  <i</s  in  gases  from  limekiln  and  lm<jaxsc  chimney. 

The  quantity  of  carbonic  acid   in  the  gases  from    the   limekiln    and 
bagasse  chimney  is  given  in  Table  No.  60. 
The  object   of  (let ei ■mining  the  percentage  Of  COj  in  the  bagass< 

smoke  was  to  see  if  it  could  he  used  in  the  process  of  earbonitat ion. 
Since,  with  cane  juices,  this  process  requires  BO  little  lime  it  seems 
probable  that  the  gases  from  the  JJagassc  chimney  can  be  used  for  this 

purpose. 


58 


Table  No.  GO. — Carbonic  acid  gas  from  furnace. 


Date. 

Hour. 

Num- 
ber. 

CO,. 

11a.  m               i 

Per  cent. 
12.5 
13.88 
15.89 
18.54 
21.47 
23.93 
21.60 
20.80 
20.  54 
12.  33 
12.39 
10.  02 
15.61 
22.  04 
28.60 
11.25 
25.  92 
33.  50 
25.42 
29.89 
17.88 

Do 

12  m... 

1  p.m.. 

3  p.  m . . 
5  p.  ni . . 

8  p.  m. . 
0  a.  m.. 

4  p.m.. 

9  p.m.. 
C  a.  m . . 

3  p.  m . . 
9  j).  m.. 
7  a.  m  . . 

10  a.m.. 

5  p.m.. 
9  a.  m . . 

4  p.  m.. 

5  a.  m.. 

10  a.m.. 

2  a.  in.. 

11  a.m.. 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

19 

20 

21 

2  2 

23 

24 

Do 

Do 

Do 

Do 

November  28 

Do 

Do 

November  29 

Do 

Do 

November  30 

Do 

December  9 

Do 

December  11 

Do 

Carbonic  acid  gas  from  Bagasse  chimney. 


9  a.  m . . 
11  a.  m  . . 
3  p.  m . . 

16 
17 
18 

11.44 
11.15 
8.8 

Do 

Do 

DATA  RELATING  TO  SORGHUM  AS  A  SUGAR-PRODUCING  PLANT. 


The  problem  of  the  possible  profitable  production  of  sugar  from  sor- 
ghum has  occupied  the  attention  of  chemists,  agronomists,  and  manu- 
facturers for  many  years. 

I  will  not  insist  here  on  the  immense  advantages  which  would  accrue 
bo  American  agriculture  by  the  development  of  an  indigenous  sugar 
industry.  There  is  no  true  friend  of  our  farming  interests  who  does  not 
wisli  our  sugar  to  be  produced  at  home,  and  if  sorghum  can  help  to  the 
consummation  of  such  a  wish  we  ought  to  know  it. 

A  full  discussion  of  these  aspects  of  the  subject  can  be  found  in  my 
presidential  address  before  the  Washington  Chemical  Society,  delivered 
3n  the  9th  of  December,  1886. » 

It  seems  to  me  that  we  have  now  reached  a  point  in  the  study  of  the 
problem  of  the  production  of  sugar  from  sorghum  where  it  is  possible, 
by  a  careful  review  of  the  ground  already  passed  over,  to  secure  an  ac- 
curate notion  of  the  progress  which  has  been  made. 

It  is  to  this  task  that  I  have  devoted  the  present  study.  For  con- 
venience the  study  of  the  problems  may  be  divided  into  three  parts,  viz  : 
(1)  Chemical,  (2)  experimental,  (3)  practical. 

CHEMICAIi. 

The  amount  of  analytical  work  which  has  been  done  on  sorghum  in 
this  country  is  enormous.  At  most  I  can  give  only  a  summary  of  the 
recorded  results. 

Tins  analytical  work  may  be  best  studied  by  dividing  it  into  two 
groups,  namely:  (a)  Work  done  by  the  Department  of  Agriculture  and 
(b)  other  work. 

(a)  WORK  DONE  BY  THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE. 

The  first  analys.  _:liuin  eaie>  l»y  the  Department  of  Agriculture 

were  made  by  Dr.  < '.  M.  Wetheiill  in   L862. 

1  Second  Ann.  Bulletin  Washington  Chemical  Society,  pp.  11  <t  acq. 


60 


A  inean  of  seventeen  analyses  of  imphee  an<l  Borghum 
following  results : ' 


ihowed  the 


Sorghum. 

Imphee. 

First 
mean. 

Second 

moan. 

Per  cent. 
4.29 

6.08 

4.  IS 

7.00 

Perjct. 

6.19 
3.  Co 

Total  sugars 

10.37 

11.13 

9.84 

Dr.  Wetherill  also  gives  a  table  of  mean  results  obtained  by  others 
(p.  533),  and  adds  the  following  observations: 

li  follows,  from  the  experiments  thus  quoted  and  reported,  thai  the  largeel  propor- 
tion of  cane  sugar  to  uncrystallizable  sugar  is  afforded  by  the  juice  analyzed  by  Law- 
rence Smith,  to  wit,  as  10  to  2.  My  average  results  fall  far  below  this;  yet  if  the 
analyses  of  my  best  canes  are  taken,  their  jnice  will  compare  favorably  with  thafcof 
the  analysis  of  Smith.  For  example,  by  (he  analyst's  numbered  8,  10,  11.  for  every  10 
parts  of  cane  sugar  found  wo  have,  respectively,  2.1, 1.8,  and  1.8  per  cent,  of  uncrystal- 
lizable  sugar.  It  is  remarkable  that  in.  analyses  10  and  11  the  juices  differing  so  much 
in  actual  saceharino  richness  should  contain  the  same  relative  proportion  of  cane 
sugar  to  uncrystallizable  sugar.  When  my  mean  results  arc  compared  with  the  re- 
sults afforded  by  the  practical  experiment  of  Mr.  Lovering,  who  grow  the  sorghum, 
analyzed  its  juice,  and  converted  the  same  into  cane  sugar  and  molasses,  it  appears 
that  my  mean  of  sorghum  analyses  gives  very  nearly  the  same  proportion  of  cane  sngar 
to  uncrystallizable  sugar,  and  that  my  imphee  mean  gives  a  larger  proportion  of  cane 
sugar.  I  think  that  my  analyses  and  their  means  will  give  a  moderately  accurate 
reflect  ion  of  the  present  state  of  the  sorghum  and  imphee  culture  in  our  country. 

There  are,  doubtless,  finer  canes  grown  than  I  have  examined,  and  richer  both  in 
simp-making  quality  and  in  the  proportion  of  cane  sngar  present  ;  but  the  analyses 
probably  represent  the  present  condition  of  the  cane  as  planted. 

Henri  Erin2  reports  one  analysis  of  sorghum.     It  gave  : 

Per  cent. 

Sucrose 10.31 

<  '•  1  ucoso 8. 07 

lie  adds  : 

brary  to  my  expectations,  I  found  that  the  expressed  sorgho  juice  of  ripe  oauc 
whether  neutralised  by  lime  or  not,  refused  to  crystallize,  for  what  solidified  or  gran- 
ulated after  long  standing  of  the  simp  was  grape-sugar.  This  fact  uasbeen  estab- 
lished by  tin'  largest  and  most  skillful  farmers  and  experimenters,  and  admit  ted  at  the 
era  sorghum  conventions,  'flu1  result  might  be  ascribed  to  the  total  inversion 
previously  of  the  cane-sugar  by  t  be  Influence  of  acid,  or  of  a  ferment,  but  tins  is  not 
the  case,  as  I  have  repeatedly  been  able  to  prove.  The  following  extreme  case  may 
infflce  tor  illustration  of  tbis  fact :  In  tin-  sugar  determination  which  is  here  given, 

ragar  was  found,  and  yet  the  most  persistent  efforts  failed  to  produce  a  single 

d  in  the  concentrated  liquid. 

i  Depai  i  ment  of  agriculture,  report  1862,  p 

nciiltural  K- ipol  I '  1  B65J  pi    18! 


61 

Dr.  Thomas  Antisell1  reports  analyses  of  frozen  and  fresh  canes.  The 
juice  from  frozen  canes  had  the  following  composition: 

Per  cent. 

Sucrose 11.10 

Glucose 8.90 

The  juice  of  the  fresh  canes  had  the  following  composition  : 

Ter  cent. 
No.  1.     Sucrose 7.86 

Glucose 4.  38 

No.  2.     Sucrose 5.  [)i 

Glucose 3.  GO 

Dr.  Antisell  adds  the  following  observations  : 

Contrasting  the  amount  of  sugar  iu  the  fresh  and  dry  cane,  the  latter  greatly  pre- 
l>onderates ;  and  were  the  question  only  on  the  amount  of  sugar  to  ho  obtained,  tho 
decision  would  he  in  favor  of  working  on  the  partially  dried  canes  ;  but  on  observing 
the  ratio  of  glucose  and  cane  sugar  in  the  fresh  juice  aud  that  expressed  later,  it  will 
he  remarked  that  the  relative  amount  of  glucose  is  much  higher,  so  that  the  sugar 
appears  to  he  gradually  passing  into  glucose  the  longer  it  remains  in  the  cane,  show- 
ing that  the  fermenting  causes  are  as  active  within  the  stem  of  the  drying  cane  as 
after  the  juice  has  been  expressed  and  exposed  to  the  air.  Several  attempts  were 
made  in  the  laboratory  to  granulate  the  sugar  of  this  juice  ;  but  whether  neutralized 
and  defecated  or  not,  the  invariable  result  was  the  disappearance  of  cane  BOgar,  and 
a  uniform  sirup  of  uncrystallizable  sugar.  Thus  far,  then,  laboratory  examinations 
indicate  the  necessity  of  evaporating  the  juice  of  the  recently  cut  canes,  if  it  is  de« 
sired  to  obtain  any  crystallizable  sugar. 

In  1878  Dr.  Collier  began  his  extensive  studies  of  sorghum.  Dr.  Col- 
lier gave  the  following  result  of  the  analyses  made  by  the  Department 
of  Agriculture  in  18792: 

Early  amber,  from  August  13  to  October  ^'J,  inclusive, fifteen  analyses,  extending 
over  seventy-eight  days,  11.0  per  cent,  sucrose. 

White  Liberian,  from  August  13  to  <  Ictober  29,  inclusive,  thirteen  analyses,  extend' 
iug  over  seventy-eight  days,  13.8  per  cent .  Boorose. 

Liberian,  from  September  L3  to  October  'J'.*,  inclusive,  seven  anal  Elding  0T6I 

forty-six  days.  13.8  per  cent,  sum 

Honduras,  from  October  14  to  October  29,  inclusive,  three  anal.  ndingovec 

bixteen  days,  1  1.6  per  cent.  SUOroSG. 

In  1880  these  analyses  were  continued  in  large  numbers  on  samples 
of  cane  grown  in  tbe  Department  grounds  and  on  others  sent  in  from 
various  localities.  The  details  of  these  analyses  are  to  be  round  in 
the  Annual  Report  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture  for  1880,  pp,  37 
■  8eq. 

The  canes,  according  to  development,  were  divided  into  nineteen 
classes.  With  the  seveuth  stage,  the  seed  is  just  entering  the  milks 
state.    Since  a  large  pan  of  the  Beed  will  still  be  in  this  state,  w  hen  the 


Department  of  Agriculture  » Sorghum.,  p.  196 


G2 


manufacture  is  to  be  carried  on  on  a  large  scale,  I  give  the  means  of  the 
analyses  of  the  different  varieties  from  that  stage  on1 : 


Stages. 

Glucose. 

Sucrose. 

Available 

sucrose. 

X  umber 
juices 

analyzed. 

7 

Per  cent. 
3.8li 
3.83 
3.19 
2.  GO 
2.35 
2.07 
2.  03 
1.88 
1.81 
1.64 
1.  f)G 
1.85 
3.09 

1 

7.38 

8.  95 
0.  98 

10.66 
11.18 
11.40 
11.  7G 
11.69 
12.40 
13.72 

1 1 .  92 

12.  08 

Per 

5.  50 

G.  GO 

1.-21 
7  77 

70 
111 
266 

217 
1G6 
170 
183 
101 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

8  21 

16 

8.86 
8.27 

197 
191 

30 

17 

18 

19 

Mean 

2.44 

10.83 

181 

*  The  method  of  determining  available  BUgai  does  uot  clearly  appear. 

These  analyses  were  continued  in  great  detail  during  the  following 
years,  18S1  and  1S82,  and  the  results  are  found  in  the  reports  of  the 
Department.2 

The  averages  for  the  whole  number  of  samples  for  each  stage  alter 
the  sixth  is  given  below. 3 


Stages. 

Glucose. 

Sucrose. 

Available 

Bucn 

7 

Per  rent. 
3.69 
3.70 
3.30 
2.  86 

2,  47 
2.21 
•J.  22 
1.84 
1.72 
1.83 
1.75 
1.73 

1 

6.08 
7.47 
8.76 
10.00 
12.01 
13.06 

14.34 

1 5.  08 

16  61 
15.28 

Per  ami, 

1.  14 
■_'.  B6 
1    14 

7.61 

8.87 

11.14 
11.02 

11    77 

0.33 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13   .. 

14 

15...              

18 

17 

18 

After  18th 

Mean 

2.47 

12.  41 

The  effect  of  frost  on  the  character  of  the  juice  was  also  investigated.4 
The  frost  produced  a  loss  of  sucrose  amounting  to  L5.6  percent.,  and  a 

gain  Of  gluCOSe,  29.1    per  cent. 

Dr.  Collier   makes   the   following   observations   on   the  results  of  t  lie 
analyses  :  B 

'.I  m  i:m    :  i    ANALYSES  BEARING  I  POM  THE  QUESTION  OF  AVAILABLE  81  OAR, 

r.    reference  to  the  table  giving  the  general  rosultsof  all  the  analyses  of  the  several 
varieties  of  sorghnm  in  1879,  1830,  and  1881,  the  aggregate  n amber  of  analyses  being 

1  Department  of  Agrionltnre,  Report  1880,  pp.  110,111. 

Department  of  Agrionltnre,  Reporl  L88I   1882,  p.  370  st  teg.,  and  [nvestigations  of 
Sorghnm  as  a  Sngar-Prod uoing  Plant,  speoial  report,  I 

Department  of  Agriculture,  Reporl  1831  and  1882,  pp.  I 
« Department  of  Agriculture,  Reporl  1881  and   1882,  p 

Op,  <it.,  p.  Hi.'. 


63 


4,042,  and  the  varieties  analyzed  being  about  fort}',  these  results  having  been  obtained 
from  as  many  distinct  varieties  by  so  large  a  number  of  separate  analyses  made  in 
successive  years,  the  general  conclusion  reached  appears  established  beyond  question. 

It  will  be  3een  that  during  the  early  stages  of  development  of  these  plants,  up  to 
and  including  the  sixth  stage,  the  available  sugar  is  given  as  a  minus  quantity,  i.  c, 
the  amount  of  sucrose  in  the  juice  is  less  than  the  sum  of  the  glucose  and  other  solids. 
It  will  also  be  seen  that  in  the  seventh  stage  the  available  angaria  practically  none, 
being  only  .13  percent.,  and  this  stage  represents  the  period  when  the  seed  is  in  the 
milky  stage.  It  is  then  obviously  absurd  to  expect  to  obtain  any  sugar  by  working 
up  the  crop  until  it  has  advanced  beyond  this  condition  toward  maturity. 

It  will  also  be  observed  in  the  table  that  during  these  early  stages  the  amount  of 
this  minus  available  sugar  remains  nearly  the  same,  the  average  for  the  first  live  - 
being  3.22  per  cent.,  and  also  that  the  available  sugar  after  it  first  appears  rapidly  in- 
creases in  quantity,  and  remains  practically  constant  through  the  several  Bubseqnent 
stages;  and  in  this  it  agrees,  as  will  be  seen,  with  the  development  of  bhesucrose,  which 
at  a  certain  period  is  very  rapid,  and  afterward  Dearly  constant  through  the  Season, 
while,  as  has  been  remarked,  the  sum  of  the  glucose  and  solids  is  nearly  the  same 
throughout. 

EFFECT   OF   SUCKERS    ON   COMPOSITION   OF   JUIOE. 

The  injurious  effect  of  suckers  on  the  juice  is  shown  by  the  following 
average  analyses  of  thirty-four  varieties.1 


Suck- 

Unauok- 
i  red. 

Ratio. 

Sucrose 

J'r.  et 
13.17 

J.  14 
3.10 

Per  crnt. 
10.  55 

4.  19 

Percent. 

100:    00.  1 

LOO: 137.9  ' 
100:115.5 
100:  55.6 

soir'dH 

Available  sugar 

ANALYSES   OF   JUICES    FROM   SMALL    Mil 

These  analyses  were  made  from  September  12  to  October  22,  L881. 
The  canes  were  taken  from  the  experimental  plots  in  the  Department 
grounds  and  from  some  other  localities  in  the  vicinity  of  Washington. 

The  mean  results  arc  as  follows: 

Pi  i  rriit. 

Sucrose '.>.  - 

Glucose 

Available  sugar 3.09 

wvlvsls  OP    ii  [OES   PROM    LARGE   MIL!. 

The  analyses  were   made  from  September  27  to  October  -7,  L881, 
The  total  quantity  of  cam-  ground  was  229  tons  Ml  pounds. 
The  mean  composition  of  the  juice  for  this  entii  »n  was  as  fol 

lows  : 

Sucrose <;.  '.'i 

Glucose I 

Nol  sugar*  I, 

op,  oit .  |.  ii 

1  Department  ol  Agriculture,  Report  1881  ami  1882,  pp.  L 
Depart]  ri  culture  Report,  1881  ftutl  I- 


64 

In  respect  of  the  character  of  the  cane,  Dr.  Collier  makes  the  follow- 
ing reports  :l 

THE   WORK   OF   THE   LARGE   6UGAB  MILL. 

Mention  has  already  been  made  of  the  several  plots  of  sorghum  of  different  varie- 
ties upon  the  lands  of  Mr.  Patterson,  Mr.  Golden,  and  Dr.  Dean,  which  were  intended 
for  working  upon  a  scale  of  sufficient  magnitude  to  afford  a  practical  demonstration 
of  the  economical  production  of  sugar  upou  a  commercial  scale 

Owing  to  the  backward  spriug  and  the  ravages  of  wire  and  cut  worms,  two  succes- 
sive plantings  of  seed  almost  entirely  failed,  and  it  was  only  after  thoroughly  coat- 
ing the  seed  with  coal-tar  that  a  final  stand  of  cane  was  secured.  This  third  planting 
was  concluded  Juno  18,  fully  seven  weeks  after  the  planting  of  the  plot  upon  the 
Department  grounds,  the  examination  and  working  of  which  has  already  been  dis- 
cussed in  the  preceding  pages.  To  any  one  who  has  carefully  perused  this  report 
thus  far,  or  either  of  the  reports  of  the  preceding  years,  giving  the  results  of  our  ex- 
amination of  sorghum,  it  is  entirely  useless  to  say  that  this  delay  was  fatal  to  suc- 
in  the  production  of  sugar,  and  that  failure  was  inevitable  unless  all  our  pre- 
vious experience  was  to  be  falsified. 

The  failure  of  the  crop  to  mature,  as  had  been  confidently  predicted  during  the 
summer,  was  fully  realized,  and  at  last,  with  the  assurance  that  the  frosts  would 
soon  render  the  crop  unfit  even  for  sirup,  owing  to  its  immature  state,  it  was  resolved 
to  begin  work,  since,  with  the  limited  capacity  of  the  mill,  it  would  require  at  least 
two  months  to  work  up  the  entire  crop  of  135  acres.  Accordingly  the  work  of  cut- 
ting the  cane  began  September  19,  a;id  grinding  began  September  26,  and  was  con- 
tinued without  any  serious  interruption  until  October  28.  At  this  time  the  cane  still 
remaining  upon  the  field,  through  the  effect  of  frosts  and  succeeding  warm  weather, 
had  become  worthless,  and  the  cane  from  only  93^  acres  in  all  was  brought  to  the 
mill,  the  last  portions  of  which  had  already  become  sour  and  offensive. 

ANALYSES  IN   18S2.3 

Beginning  with  the  stage  when  the  seed  was  in  the  inilk,  1  give  be- 
low the  mean  results  of  Dr.  Collier's  analyses  of  many  different  varieties 
of  sorghum  in  1882  : 


Seed  in  milk 

Seed  In  dpngfa 

Seed  hard 

Bucket  seed  in  milk  .  . 

Sucker  Herd  in  dough. 

Backer  seed  bard 


Glucose 

Sucrose. 

Percent. 

Percent. 

2.  90 

8.45 

2,  171 

1.83 

1.203 

LI.  448 

1.12 

1.4.-. 

12.63 

Available  sugar. 


- 
8.  20 
5.054 

7. 120 
8  19 
8.58 


1  Op.  ott.,  p.  504. 

Sagar-produoinj 


Plant,  by  Peter  Collier,  Special  Report,  L883,  p.  l 


65 

COMPOSITION   OF  JUICE  IN  BLADES  AND   STALKS. 

Numerous  analyses  were  made1  to  determine  the  relative  coinposi. 
tion  of  stalk  and  leaf  juice.  This  comparison  will  be  sufficiently  indi- 
cated by  some  of  the  analyses  quoted  below  : 


Stalks. 

Leaves. 

No. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

Xot  Bugar. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

Not  sugar. 

1 
2 
3 

4 

Per  cent. 
10.29 
14.  G4 
11.79 
13.31 

Per  cent. 

3.21 

1.87 

1.15 

.93 

Per  cent. 
1.84 
1.54 
3.03 
3.28 

Percent. 
2.84 
2.15 
4.23 
2.23 

Per  cent. 
1.C6 
1.52 
2.25 
2.50 

Per  cent. 
7.82 
9.21 
6.76 
7.71 

Dr.  Collier  adds  the  following  observation  :2 

It  is  to  be  observed  that  in  no  case  was  there  any  available  sugdr  in  the  juice  from 
the  leaves,  owing  not  to  tbe  excess  of  glucose,  but  to  tbe  much  larger  percentage  of 
solids  not  sugars  in  the  leaf  juice. 

FURTHER  ANALYSES   OF  FROSTED   CANES.3 

Per  cent. 
Analyses  before  frost,  November  3,  1882. — Means  : 

Sucrose 12. 44 

Glucose 1. 23 

Not  sugar 2. 68 

Available  sugar    8. 62 

Juice  extracted 58.19 

Analyses  after  thirteen  frosts,  December  8. — Means  : 

Sucrose 14. 35 

Glucose ; 2.  85 

Not  sugar 2. 98 

Juice  extracted 39.17 

Loss  of  juice 32.69 

Gain  in  sucrose 15.35 

Gain  in  glucose 131.  71 

Loss  in  available  sugar 1.16 

ANALYSES  DURING  TDK   YEAR   1S83. 

Numerous  analyses  were  made  by  the  Division  of  Chemistry  of  the 
Department  of  Agriculture  during  the  season  of  1883,  under  my  super 
vision. 

Considering  that  it  had  been  sufficiently  well  established  by  the  re- 
searches of  Dr.  Collier,  that  small  plats  of  cane  under  careful  culture 
and  proper  fertilization  afforded  an  extremely  rich  saccharine  plant,  I 
directed  attention  Chiefly  to  the  character  of  the  juice  as  a  whole.  The 
analyses  represent  the  average  composition  of  the  juice  from  740,360 
pounds  of  cane.1 

1  Op.  c\t.,  pp.  29-30.  3  Op.  cil,  p.  34. 

'-  Op.  cil.,  p.  30.  i  Ball  N«».  3,  pp.  43  and  it. 

23576— Bull  18 5 


66 

Means  : 

Per  cent. 

Sucrose 8.38 

Glucose 4.  09 

Total  solids 14.06 

The  part  of  the  cane  ground  from  September  29  to  October  4:  was  of 
an  exceptionally  poor  quality.     Its  analysis  is  given  separately.1 

Per  cent. 

Sucrose 6. 73 

Glucose 6. 16 

Purity  co-efficient 50.  00 

A  separate  study  of  the  mill  juices  was  also  made  from  October  16 
to  November  21.2 
Following  are  the  means  of  these  analyses : 

Per  cent. 

Sucrose 9.  04 

Glucose 4.08 

Total  solids 14. 81 

Analyses  of  diffusion  juices  obtained  from  the  same  lot  of  cane  and 
at  the  same  time  showed  the  following  composition  : 3 

Per  cent. 

Sucrose 4. 95 

Glucose 2.4a 

Total  solids 8.02 

Analyses  were  also  made  of  caues  grown  in  Indiana. 
The  canes  were  cut  and  prepared  as  follows : 4 

These  canes  were  cut,  the  leaves  and  tops  left  undisturbed,  the  cut  surface  covered 
with  melted  wax,  and  the  whole  wrapped  carefully  in  paper  and  sent  by  express  to 
the  laboratory  hero  for  analysis. 

Nos.  1  and  2  were  cut  in  the  afternoon  of  October  1  and  analyzed  October  4,  having 
been  I  luce  days  on  the  road. 

No.  1  was  a  sample  of  eight  selected  canes.  No.  2  was  a  sample  of  sixteen  caucs 
taken  seriatim  from  an  average  row,  and  represents  the  cane  as  a  whole.  It  soems  to 
have  deteriorated  very  little  in  transit,  and  the  analyses  of  the  sirup  go  toshow  that 
the  average  of  the  whole  patch  was  about  a  mean  of  the  results  of  Nos.  1  and  2.  No.  3 
was  cnt  at  4  p.  m. October  1  and  analyzed  October  6,  at  9  a.  m.,  an  interval  of  four 
days  and  seventeen  hours. 

Following  are  the  results  of  the  analyses:5 

Indiana  canes  and  sin^s. 


No. 

Sucrose. 

Othor  sugars. 

1 
2 
3 

I',  r  r< nt. 
L8.25 
10.78 

l',r  cent. 

2.  M 

:t.7i 

5.91) 

it  October  l  . . .  . 

;  Op,  ott.,p.   13. 

■BulL  N. >.•.'.  p.38. 


::  ()p.  dt.,  p. 3 1. 
<BolLNo.3lp.6& 


ftQp.ott.,p.53. 


67 

Analyses  were  also  made  of  caiies  from  the  Rio  Grande  plantation, 
New  Jersey.  These  canes  were  prepared  for  shipment  in  the  manner 
just  described. 

Analyses  of  juice  from  eight  volunteer  canes,  ripe  and  in  first-class 
condition : 

Per  cent. 

Sucrose 10. 68 

Glucose 3.25 

Not  sugar  2.48 

Total  solids 15. 3G 

Analyses  of  six  canes  from  field  fertilized  with  salt  muck : 

Per  cent. 

Sucrose 12. 78 

Glucose 1. 77 

Not  sugar 3. 23 

Total  solids 17.78 

Analyses  of  twenty-five  canes  taken  from  carrier  representing  fairly 
well  the  canes  ground  on  September  22,  18S3  : 

Per  cent. 

Sucrose 9.32 

Glucose 4.99 

Not  sugar 0. 9G 

Total  solids 15.27 

In  1884  some  small  plats  of  sorghum  were  grown  on  the  Department 
grounds.  These  varieties  were  Early  Amber,  Early  Orange,  Link's 
Hybrid,  and  Honduras.  These  plats  had  a  dressing  of  well  decomposed 
stable  manure  and  an  application  of  superphosphate  equal  to  400 
pounds  per  acre. 

Following  is  a  description  of  the  method  of  preparing  the  canes  for 
analysis : l 

The  seed-heads,  as  they  appeared,  were  cut  off  of  a  large  number  of  canes  at  inter- 
vals along  the  row.  A  like  number  of  canes  was  left  to  mature  in  the  usual  way. 
To  protect  the  forming  seeds  of  these  against  tho  depredations  of  the  English  spar- 
rows they  were  covered  with  a  cap  of  tarlatan  ;  but  in  spite  of  this  precaution  the 
seeds  did  not  mature.  Tho  hungry  birds  would  hang  upon  the  netting  and  gradually 
pick  them  off.  To  this  extent  the  object  of  tho  trial  was  defeated  ;  but  tho  results 
show  that  the  removal  of  the  seed,  either  before  or  after  flowering,  does  apparently 
increase  tho  percentage  of  sucrose  in  tho  juice.  This  is  shown  from  tho  fact  that  tho 
percentage  of  sucrose  in  canes  deprived  by  tho  birds  of  their  seed  is  much  greater  in 
tho  juices  analyzed  in  1881  than  in  those  of  1883,  when  tho  soed  matured.  On  the 
other  hand,  it  does  not  appear  that  tho  removal  of  the  panicle  Immediately  on  its 
appearance  tends  to  give  a  materially  greater  percentage  of  sucrose  than  is  obtained 
by  allowing  the  birds  to  removo  tho  seeds  after  they  have  begun  to  form. 

In  Table  1  aro  given  tho  results  of  tho  analyses  of  eanes  whose  paniolei  were  cut 
as  soon  as  they  could  bo  seen.  These  eanes  were  stripped  and  pressed  in  a  small 
mill.     Tin1  percentage  of  juice  expressed  was  noted.     The   I  as  now  p 

a  second  time  through  the  mill,  and  the  percentage  of  second  juice  calculated  on  tho 

fust   Weight  of  I  he  cane. 

* 

'Bulletin  No.  5,  Division  of  Chemistry,  Department  of  Agriculture,  pp.  139,  1  10, 


68 


Means  of  analyses  of  canes  whose  seed-heads  had  been  removed.1 

First  juices:  Percent 

Sucrose 14. 90 

Glucose 1.32 

Not  sugar  3.71 

Total  solids 19.90 

Parity  co-efficient 74.  80 

Second  juices :  2 

Sucrose 14.  83 

Glucose 1 .  25 

Not  sugar 4. 99 

Total  solids 20. 96 

Furity  co-efficient 70.50 

Analyses  of  canes  whose  seeds  were  allowed  to  ripen.* 

First  j uices  :  Tor  cent. 

Sucrose 14. 72 

Glucose 1.  22 

Not  sugar 3.  58 

Total  solids 19.59 

Furity  co-efficiout  74.93 

Second  juices:4 

Sucrose 14.  GO 

Glucose 1.18 

Not  sugar 4.  77 

Total  solids 20.67 

Purity .70.54 

Analyses  of  juices  from  stripped  and  unstripped  canes.* 


Canes  with  seed  heads 
cut. 

Caues  with  seed  heads 
uncut. 

Stripped. 

Unstripped. 

Stripped. 

Unstripped. 

Per  cent. 
15.73 
1  57 
8.  87 

20.  G8 

Per  cent 
14.48 

1.99 

•j.  e  i 

19.41 
7  1.  52 

Per  cent. 
15.88 

l.  :sg 
:;.  32 

77. 03 

Per  Mnt 

i  :>.(>:. 

1.99 

•J.  79 

20.  00 

--,  •>■> 

Not  sufjaj- 

Total  solids 

Parity  oo-efficient  .. 

I  add  the  following  observations : fl 

JUIOB8  OF    1884   COMPARED   WITH   THOSE   OF    L8€ 

The  most  surprising  phase  of  the.  experimental  work  :is  exhibited  in  the  tables 
given  is  thegreal  difference  which  it  shows  between  the  composition  of  jnices ana- 
lyzed and  those  analysed  during  Lti£ 


-  roentagc  iqotom 

Mr:ui  percentage  reduoing  sngari 
Mem  percentage  ftlbtimin 


8.  H8 

.  l.MI 


1SS1. 


14.72 
l .  2 1 
.981 


1  Op.  <it.,  p.  111. 

2  Op.  cit.,  ]>.  1 18. 


>  Op.  cit.,  pp.  142,  143. 
■  Op,  at.,  p.  144. 


*Op.  cit.,  pp.  148,  1 19. 

•  Op.  dt.,  p.  150. 


69 

The  chief  points  of  interest  in  this  comparison  are  the  increase  in  sucrose,  the  de- 
crease in  reducing  sugars,  and  the  increase  in  albuminoids.  It  is  difficult  to  explain 
why  the  same  varieties  of  cane  grown  in  the  same  locality,  with  the  same  kind  of 
culture  and  fertilizing,  and  in  seasons  not  markedly  different,  should  yield  juice 
of  such  different  composition.  Sorghum  is  one  of  the  most  capricious  of  plants,  and 
the  above  comparison  brings  some  of  its  moods  into  strong  contrast. 

During  the  season  of  1884  the  Department  made  an  extensive  series 
of  analyses  at  Helena,  Wis.  l 

The  variety  of  cane  was  Early  Amber,  and  it  was  grown  in  a  light, 
saudy  soil  without  fertilizers.  I  visited  the  plantation  during  the  prog- 
ress of  the  work.  The  cane,  though  small,  looked  well  and  was  mostly 
ripe. 

Following  are  the  means  of  the  analyses  for  the  whole  season:2 

Per  cent. 

Sucrose 7. 85 

Glucose 5.00 

The  proprietors  of  the  plantation,  Messrs.  Williams  &  Flynn,  even 
after  the  discouraging  results  of  the  above  analyses,  were  not  without 
hope  that  sugar-making  could  be  profitably  undertaken  in  Wisconsin. 
To  this  opinion  I  was  not  able  to  subscribe,  as  will  be  seen  from  the 
following  quotation  : 3 

In  spite  of  the  conviction  of  Messrs.  Williams  &  Flynn  that  sorghum  sugar  can  be 
made  profitably  in  Wisconsin,  I  am  far  from  being  convinced  of  the  justness  of  that 
expectation,  unless,  indeed,  it  be  in  some  small  way.  In  view  of  the  disasters  that 
have  overtaken  attempts  at  sorghum-sugar  making  further  south  I  think  it  would  be 
unwise  to  encourage  like  enterprises  in  regions  where  at  best  not  more  than  four  weeks 
of  an  average  milling  season  can  bo  expected. 

In  1885  additional  analyses  were  made  of  sorghum  grown  near  Ottawa, 
Kans.4 

The  juices  from  the  two  mills  used  in  grinding  the  cane  were  collected 
in  a  common  tank  and  the  samples  for  analysis  taken  from  time  to  time 
from  this  tank.  These  samples,  therefore,  represent  the  mean  constitu- 
tion of  the  juice  from  several  thousand  tons  of  cane.  The  samples  were 
taken  from  September  9  to  October  14,  inclusive: 

Means  of  the  analyses. 

Per  cent. 

Sucrose 9. 23 

Glucose 3. 04 

Not  sugar 2. 87 

Tot  al  sol  ids 15.  07 

ANALYSES   OP  CANES  USED  IN  DIFFUSION. 

During  the  progress  of  the  diffusion  experiments  al  Ottawa,  Kans., 
October  8,  1885,  three  samples  of  cane  were  taken  at   different  times 

1  Op.  eit.f  pp.  151 ,  > i  sttj. 

Op.  <■;/..  p.  154. 

Op.  oil.,  i».  156, 
•Department  of  Agriculture,  Division  of  Chemistry.  Hull.  No.  (J,  1886. 


70 


during  the  day,  and  the  juice,  expressed  on  a  small  hand-mill,  subjected 
to  analysis.     The  following  results  were  obtained : ] 


First  analysis, 
10  a.  m. 

Second  analysis, 
11  a,   m. 

Third  analysis, 
11.30  a.  ni. 

Total  solids 

Sucrose 

Glucose 

Not  sugar 

Per  cent. 
17.00 
11.24 
2.44 
3.32 

Per  cent. 

15.60 

9.62 

2.85 

3.13 

Per  cent. 

15.  20 

9.83 

3.41 

1.96 

ANALYSIS   OF   DIFFUSION   JUICES. 


The  diffusion  juices  obtained  in  the  above  experiment  were  analyzed 
with  the  following  results : l 


First  sample. 

Second  sample. 

Total  solids.... 

Sucrose 

Glucose. 

Not  sugar 

Percent. 
10.84 
6.19 
2.32 
2.23 

Per  cent. 
9.70 
5.90 
2.00 
1.80 

Vomjwsition  of  canes  used  in  second  diffusion  experiment  at  Ottawa.* 


No. 

Hour. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

Not  sugar. 

Total  solids. 

1 
2 
3 
4 

10  a.  m. 
3  p.  m. 

4.  3 J  p.  m. 

5.  30  p.  m. 

Per  cent. 

10.23 

8.64 

8.54 

8.81 

Per  cent. 
2.11 

2.  95 

3.  1 1 
2.61 

Per  cent. 

2.  81 
2.89 
2.98 

Per  cent. 
15.16 

14.4') 
14.54 
14.40 

Composition  of  diffusion  juices  from  above  canes. 


No. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

Not  sugar. 

Total  Bolide. 

1 

Per  cent. 
4.  SG 
5.94 

4.H9 

4,7a 

3.91 

Per  cent. 
1.09 
2.  00 
2.31 

2.  2:. 

2.10 

Per  cent. 
1.78 
2.  20 
1.64 
1.65 
1.63 

]',  r  cent. 
8,  33 
10.14 

7.70 

a 

i 

4 

5 

M<:iUS 

4.89 

2.08 

1.76 

8.74 

Composition  of  juices  from  oanes  t<>i>i><<l  and  suckered,  topped  and  nut  tuokerod,  and  un- 
touched, Ottawat  1885. 

M  KAN'S. 


Topped  and 
■uoVen  <l. 

Topped  and 
doI  Buekered. 

Ni>rni;il 

/•-  /•  pi  n/ . 

1 .  !»'.» 

2.  B2 
1  7.  20 

/'.  /■  n  nt. 
12.40 

i7.:,i 

12.  15 
16.77 

Not  sugar 
'i  otel  solid  - 

Op.  <if     |.   - 


Op.  cit,  i».  10. 


Op,  <H.,  p.  10. 


71 

COMPOSITION  OF  CANES  AND  JUICES  AT  FOET  SCOTT,  SEASON  OF  1886. 

During  1886  the  Department  analyses  were  continued  at  Fort  Scott, 
Kans.1 

Mean  composition  of  juices  of  canes  expressed  by  hand-mill. 

August  30  to  October  1,  1886  :2 

Per  cent. 

Sucrose .10.49 

Glucose 4.01 

Total  solids. 17.56 

October  1  to  26  : 

Sucrose 8. 70 

Glucose 4. 15 

Total  solids 16.60 

MEAN   COMPOSITION  OF  DIFFUSION   CHIPS. 

These  chips  were  taken  from  each  cell  and,  after  thorough  mixing, 
sampled  for  analysis.    The  extractions  were  made  in  elosed  bottles.3 


In  tbe  cane. 

In  tbe  juice. 

September  8  to  October  1,  1886: 
Sucrose 

Percent. 

8.85 

3.32 

11.69 

7.01 
4.15 
14.90 

Per  cent. 
9.73 
3.65 

16.15 

7.71 
4.56 
15.99 

Total  solids 

October  1  to  28: 

Glucose 

Total  solids 

COMPOSITION   OF  JUICES  FROM   DIFFUSION   CHIPS. 

Samples  taken  as  just  described  and  the  chips  passed  through  small 
mill. 

Means  from  October  15  to  28.  4 

Per  cent. 

Sucrose 7. 28 

Glucose 3. 74 

Total  solids 11.80 

Composition  of  the  canes  calculated  from  the  mill  juices  for  the  rutin  season.5 


Total  solids. 

Bucrose. 

Grluoose. 

Before  October  1 .. . 
After  Sept)  mberSO 
After  October  14... 

] :..  83 
U.77 

18.17 

Per  cent. 

7.71 
6.48 

Per  cent. 
3.31 

14.56 

7.85 

3.52 

'Bulletin  No.  14,  Division  of  Chemistry,  Department  of  Agriculture,  18S7. 
-'  Op,  (it.,  p.  15. 
*Op.  oi*.,  p.  IC, 
1  Op.  cit.t  p.  i: 


<>r.  , ■;/.,  p.  31, 


72 

MEAN   COMPOSITION    OF    Tlth    DIFFUSION    JUICES    FOR   THE     SEASON 

of  1880. 

Sampling. — From  each  cell  as  it  was  withdrawn  a  measured  quantity 
of  the  diffusion  juice  was  taken  until  an  entire  circuit  of  the  battery 
bad  been  made.     The  mixed  samples  was  then  subjected  to  analysis.1 

Mean  comjiosition  of  diffusion  juices. 

September  9  to  October  1 :  Per  cent. 

Sucrose 5.  ?f> 

Glucose 2.3-2 

Total  solids 11.77 

September  30  to  October  28: 

Sucrose 4. 90 

Glucose 3.  39 

Solids 11.34 


(8)    WORK  NOT  DONE  BY  THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE. 

D.  J.  Browne2  says  the  juice  of  sorghum  grown  in  France  contained 
from  10  to  1G  per  cent,  sugar,  a  third  part  of  which  is  sometimes  un- 
crystallizable. 

C.  T.  Jackson3  analyzed  samples  of  sorghum  canes  sent  him  by  the 
Department,  and  obtained  from  9  to  12  per  cent,  saccharine  matter  to 
weight  of  stalk. 

From  samples  grown  in  Massachusetts  he  obtained  from  10.0  to  14.G 
percent,  saccharine  matter.  He  made  no  attempt  to  separate  the  dif- 
ferent sugars  in  the  juice. 

In  same  volume,  p.  313,  is  given  an  analysis  made  at  Verrieres, 
France  showing  1G  per  cent,  sugar,  of  which  10.33  is  sucrose  and  5.G7 
glucose. 

C.T.Jackson  reports  further  analyses  in  Agricultural  Report,  1857,  pp. 
186  ct  Hcq.,  in  which  the  per  cent,  of  sacchariue  matter  varied  from  0.36 
{<»  10. G,  and  the  sucrose  from  nothing  to  a  large  quantity,  the  exact 
amount  of  which  was  not  determined.  Dr.  Jackson  made  no  determina- 
tions of  the  sugar  in  the  juice, but  calculated  the  saccharine  matter 
from  the  Specific  gra\  ity. 

J.  Lawrence  Smith4  made  several  analyses  of  sorghum,  from  which  he 
concludes  that  "the  sorgho  contains  about  10  per  cent,  crystallizable 
sugar.5 

Op.  cit.,  pp.  18,  11). 

Department  of  Agriculture.   Report  L856,  pp.  300-313. 

Op.  off.,  p.  308. 
4 Agricultural  Report  1857,  i>p-  198  <t  wf. 
*Opoit.}  p.  196. 


73 

Dr.  C.  A.  Goessmann1  gives  the  folio wing  as  the  uieausof  his  analyses 
of  the  ripe  canes  : 


Per  cent. 

Water 78.94 

Soluble  matter 10.22 

Of  which  sucrose 9. 25 

Of  which  celluloso 8.20 

Of  which  other  substances 2.  C4 

Joseph  S.  Lovering2  found  the  following  per  cent,  of  sucrose  in  the 
juices  of  sorghum  in  several  experiments,  viz,  5.01,  5.57,  7.20. 

Stansbury  reports3  that  the  juice  of  sorghum,  as  examined  in  France, 
contains  from  10  to  16  per  cent,  of  sugar,  a  third  part  of  which  is  un- 
crystallizable.     In  respect  of  the  manufacture  of  sugar,  he  says  : 

In  so  far  as  the  manufacture  of  sugar  is  concerned,  iu  a  domestic  way,  this  plant 
appears  to  have  but  little  chance  of  success  in  a  high  northern  climate,  as  a  large  pro- 
portion of  that  which  is  uncrystallizable  is  not  only  a  loss  to  the  manufacturer,  but 
an  obstacle  to  the  extraction  of  what  is  crystallizable.  It  must  not  be  understood, 
however,  that  the  produce  of  this  plant  is  unprolific  or  difficult  to  obtaiu,  but  that, 
all  things  being  equal,  its  nature  renders  it  more  abundant  in  alcohol  or  sirup  than 
iu  sugar. 

Hippolyte  Leplay4  found  a  percentage  of  sucrose  varying  in  ripe 
sorghum  from  0.35  to  17.81. 

Leplay5  shows  a  total  content  of  both  sugars  from  7.81  to  11.81  per 
cent. 

ANALYSES   GIVEN  BY  F.  L.   STEWART.6 

Stewart  states  that  sorghum  juices  show  an  average  density  of  11°  B., 
with  18°  saccharine  matter,  nearly  all  of  which  is  cane  sugar. 
After  clarification  this  specific  gravity  is  reduced  to  0.5°  B.1 
Average  results  for  juice  of  ripe  cane  grown  on  good  upland  soil  are 
given  as  follows:1 

Specific  gravity 1.085 

Specific  gravity  of  clarified  juice 1.070 

Total  sugars  (per  cent.) 17.00 

Of  which  nearly  all  is  sucrose. 

Stewart  quotes  the  analyses  of  Dr.  O.  T.  Jackson  as  follows: 

Specific  gravity 1.068 

Calculated  total  sugar  (per  cent.) 15.5 

Obtained  sugar  (nearly  all  sucrose),  per  cent 1G.  G 

The  figures  given  in  the  Agricultural  Report,  already  quoted  for  Dr. 

Jackson's  analyses,  are  claimed  by  Stewart  to  be  erroneous. 

1  Contributions  to  the  Knowledge  of  the  Nature  of  the  Chinese  Sagar-Cane,  1802, 

p.  21. 
■  Experiments  on  the  Sorghum  Saecharotom,  1857,  pp.  7  and  1 1. 

3Cliiueso  Sngar-Cane,  1857,  p.  10. 

A Culture  da  Sorgho  more,  pp.  :'>:;  and  34,  Toulon ie,  i  - 

1  Manuscript  sent  to  author. 

irghnm  and  its  products,  1867,  pp.  i?i  ti  teq. 


74 


The  reliability  of  the  observations  of  Mr.  Stewart  may  be  called  in 
question  by  the  fact  that  he  gives  an  illustration  of  a  thiu  section  of 
sorghum  cane  which  shows  an  abundance  of  cane  sugar  crystals  of  a 
triangular  shape.  I  will  allow  Mr.  Stewart  to  describe  these  crystals 
in  his  own  words  :l 

An  incontrovertible  evidence  of  the  presence  of  cane  sugar  almost  exclusively  in 
the  juice  of  sorghum  is  afforded  in  the  fact  that  thin  sections  of  the  fresh  stalk  of 
the  plant  under  the  microscope  exhibit  the  cells  tilled  with  innumerable  minute  crystals 
of  pure  white  sugar,  which  by  their  form  and  other  criteria  are  shown  to  he  cane  sugar 
only.  Scarcelya  trace  of  any  other  substance  is  found  in  the  cells.  This  is  well  repre- 
sented in  the  engravings. 

The  means  of  analyses  of  Early  Amber  cane  made  by  Professor  C.  A. 
Goessmann  at  the  Agricultural  College  of  Massachusetts  in  1878  are  as 
follows  :2 

Per  tout. 

Sucrose 5.  00 

Glucose f>. ;:.". 

Total  solids 14.  4  J 

An  analysis  of  the  juice  of  the  Amber  cane  at  Berkeley,  Cal.,was  made 
in  1870  by  Professor  Hilgard.     It  gave  the  following  results:3 

Specific  gravity 1.0605 

Total  solids per  cent..   14.8 

Sucrose do 10. 1 

Weber  and  Scovell4  give  the  results  of  numerous  analyses  of  Amber 
and  Orange  sorghum.     Following  are  the  figures: 

Composition  of  juice. 


No. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

Per  cent. 

Per  cent. 

1 

10.  75 

3.34 

2 

4.90 

5.70 

3 

12.48 

2.47 

4 

7.12 

6.19 

5 

11.42 

2.11! 

0 

9.13 

5.00 

7 

11.02 

•J.  7'.' 

8 

9.7G 

4.11 

9 

10.00 

2.47 

10 

13.11 

1.82 

11 

9.G7 

2.  94 

12 

11.41 

■1  02 

13 

Mt'Alls 

3.55 

14.06 

9.G1A 

4.43 

Weber  gives  the  mean  composition  of  the  juice  of  orange  cane  as  fol- 
lows:1 

rer  oent 

Baorote 9.77 

GtlncoM 3.00 

Water 76.68 

St  aid. 4.1:2 

1  Op.  ctt.,p.  186. 
Department  of  Agriculture,  Report  188]  and  l 
Report  California  College  <>i"  Agriculture,  1879,  p.  58. 

*  Illinois  Agricultural  Report,  1880,  pp.  125  ei 

&  (>}>.  oil,  p    i'< 


75 


Five  samples  of  sorghum  juice  examined  by  Professor  Hilgard,  of 
Berkeley,  Cal.,  in  1880,  showed  the  following  mean  composition:1 

Specific  gravity 1.  031 

Total  solids per  cent  ..  19.65 

Sucrose do 11.  89 

Purity 06.82 

In  1881  Weber  and  Scovell  continued  their  analyses.2 
The  means  of  three  series  of  determinations  of  sucrose  and  glucose 
were  found  to  be  : 


Series. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

First  ... 
Second.. 
Third... 

Per  cent. 

8.56 

11.95 

11.18 

Per  cent. 
4.84 
3.21 
2.85 

Weber  and  Scovell 3  give  the  following  as  the  mean  composition  of 
the  juice  of  Amber  cane  for  1881 : 

Specific  gravity 1. 070 

Sucrose per  cent..  1*2.08 

Glucose do 2.47 

ANALYSES  AT  EXPERIMENTAL  FARM   OF   WISCONSIN  FOR   18S1.4 

The  mean  composition  of  the  juice  for  1881  at  Madison,  Wis.,  was — 

Per  cent. 

Sucrose 9.  5 

Glucose 3.2 

Not  sugar 2. 3 

Water 85.0 

Analyses  of  Early  Amber,  Early  Orange,  and  Honduras  canes  gave 
the  following  mean  results : 5 


In  the  juice. 

Early  Amber. 

Early  Orange. 

Honduras. 

Sucrose 

Glucose 

Per  cent. 

10.63 

2.68 

Per  cent. 
10.50 
4  95 

Per  cent. 
7.00 
4.20 

CANES  FROM  DIFFERENT  PARTS  OF  THE   STATE. 

The  mean  composition  of  the  juice  from  canes  grown  in  different 
parts  of  the  State  of  Wisconsin  and  sent  to  experimental  station  for 

analysis  is  as  follows : 6 

Per  oent 

Sucrose 8.  07 

Glucose 6.12 

1  College  of  Agriculture,  California,  Report  1880,  p.  41. 
■  Illinois  Agricultural  Report,  1881,  p.  497. 

1  Eueonragemenl  to  the  Sorghum  and  Beet  Sugar  Industry,  Department  Agricult- 
ure, 1883,  p.  12. 
*  Report  National  Academy  Soiencea  on  Sorghnm,  i>.  p.  v0  ei  se</. 
*Op,  cit.,  p.  86. 
'  Op.  ct*.,  p.  89. 


76 

Weber  and  Scovell  give  the  following-  as  the  mean  composition  of 
Amber  cane  for  1SS2.1 

Specific  gravity 1. 060 

Sucrose per  cent . .  8. 20 

Glucose do 3.  GO 

For  the  best  cane  raised  by  them  in  18S2  the  following  mean  compo- 
sition of  the  juice  is  given  : 2 

Specif  c  gravity 1.060 

Sucrose per  ceut . .   10. 17 

Glucose do 2. 48 

Sweuson3  gives  the  analyses  of  juices  from  plots  of  fertilized  canes 
grown  at  the  experimental  farms  of  the  University  of  Wisconsin. 
Following  are  the  means  of  sixteen  analyses: 

•Per  cent. 

Sucrose 10. 75 

Glucose.... 3.09 

Professor  Swenson  reports  the  mean  percentage  of  sucrose  in  the 
juice  of  three  lots  of  cane  used  for  sugar  making  as  follows:4 

Per  cent. 

Lot  1 9.89 

Lot2 12.1) 

Lot  3 11.20 

Twenty  six  varieties  of  sorghum  grown  on  the  experimental  farm  of 
Wisconsin  in  1882  and  analyzed  by  Professor  Swenson  showed  the 
following  composition  of  the  juice: 5 

Per  cent. 

Sucrose 9. 84 

Glucose 8.35 

Twenty-three  varieties  grown  with  fertilizers  at   same  place  gave  a 

juice  of  the  following  composition:0 

Per  cent. 

Sucrose 10.79 

Glucose 2.81 

Swenson  also  reports7  another  set  of  canes  which  had  n    juice  on  Oc 
tober  1"»  of  the  following  composition  : 

Per  cent 

Sucrose 10. 60 

Glucose 2.88 

1  Encouragement  to  the  Sorghum  and  Beet  Sugar  Industry,  Department  of  Agri- 
culture, 1883,  p,  12. 
Op.  of*.,  p.  16. 
Op.  eU.t  p.  19. 
4  Encouragement  to  Sorghum,  etc.,  Department  of  Agriculture,  1883,  p.  20. 

mi  i  incuts  with  Amber  Cane,  Madison,  Wis.,  I  B2,  i».  7. 
'  Op.  .//.,  p.  B. 
'Encouragement  to  Sorghum,  etc.,  Department  of  Agriculture,  1883,  i>.  21. 


77 


Three  days  later  the  juice  had  the  following  composition: 

Per  cent. 

^              Sucrose 9.  50 
Glucose 5.00 

At  Modena,  Italy,  during  the  same  year,  farther  experiments  were 
carried  on  by  Professor  Pirotta.1 

The  experiments  were  divided  into  four  series.  Following  are  the 
mean  results  for  each  series.  In  each  series  are  given  the  means  of 
twelve  analyses  of  sorghum  juices : 

First  scries  : 

Specific  gravity 1.0712 

Sucrose per  cent . .  8. 20 

Glucose do....  6.53 

Second  series : 

Specific  gravity 1.  0946 

Sucrose per  cent . .  14. 84 

Glucose do 5.14 

Third  series : 

Specific  gravity 1.0997 

Sucrose per  cent..  15.10. 

Glucose do 5. 81 

Fourth  series : 

Specific  gravity 1. 1039 

Sucrose per  cent..  18.  01 

Glucose do 4.17 

In  1882  I  made  numerous  analyses  of  juice  from  a  large  cane-mill  at 
La  Fayette,  Iud.  The  analyses  represent  50  acres  of  cane,  the  greater 
part  of  which  was  stripped  and  ripe.2 

The  means  of  the  analyses  are  as  follows : 

Sucrose per  cent . .  7.  52 

Glucose , do 5. 80 

Specific  gravity 1.  05S6 

Fifteen  varieties  of  sorghum  were  also  grown  on  the  experimental  farm 
of  Purdue  University  during  the  same  year.  The  whole  of  the  plots  was 
cut  and  passed  through  the  mill,  and  the  analysis  represents  the  com- 
position of  the  entire  juice. 

The  means  are  as  follows : 

Sucrose per  cent . .  7.17 

Glucose do 5. 15 

Specific  gravity do 1. OS 

Prof.  Giulio  Monselise3  gives  the  result  of  numerous  analyses  of  sor- 
ghum juices.  Following  are  the  means  of  forty-one  analyst  s  made  on 
canes  planted  in  April,  1882: 

l'i  r  i 

Sucrose 11. 

Glucose 5. 78 

Total  solids 

1  Annali  di  Agricoltura  sul  Sorgho  Ambrato,  1--::,  pp  ma. 

'Report  Agricultural  College  of  Indiana  (Purdue  University   .  1--.'.  pp.244   - 

3L'ambra  priruiticcia  o  Sorgho  Zucrlicriiio  d.-l  Minnesota,  Manit«»va.  L88S,  Pi  • 
Quorto;  tablo  opposito  p.  198. 


78 

In  18S2  experiments  were  made  at  the  Zootechnic  sebool  in  Keggio, 
Italy,  by  Professors  Zanelli  and  Spallanzani.  The  means  of  the  analy- 
ses made  by  them  are  as  follows : « 

First  series: 

Per  cent,  in  the  juice. 

Sucrose 13. 99 

Glucose 4.  £7 

Second  series : 

Sucrose 11.  5o 

Glucose 7. 82 

Two  samples  of  sorglmin  juice  (early  amber)  examined  by  Professor 
Ililgard,  of  the  University  of  California,  showed  the  following  mean  com- 
position  :2 

Specific  gravity 1 .  070 

Total  solids per  cent . .  17. 00 

Sucrose do 8.10 

Purity  45.40 

A  sample  of  juice  from  sugar-cane  also  grown  in  California  showed  the 
following  composition : 

Specific  gravity 1.  070 

Total  solids per  cent..  18.4 

Sucrose do 16. 9 

Purity 92.93 

Professor  Hilgard  adds  the  following  observations:3 

The  above  analyses  exhibit,  first,  the  superiority  of  the  true  sugar-cane  over  the 
sorghum  in  respect  to  purity  as  well  as  total  sugar  contents,  although  in  both  respects 
the  former  is  here  shown  below  the  quality  to  which  it  attains  in  tropical  countries. 
There  can  be  no  doubt  that  wherever  the  tropical  sugar-cane  can  bo  grown  to  ad- 
vantage within  the  reach  of  intelligent  labor  and  perfected  appliances,  it  is  superior 
to  the  sorghum  as  a  sugar-producing  plant. 

Remarkable  results  were  obtained  by  using  special  fertilizers  in  the 
New  Jersey  experiments. 

In  sixteen  experiments  the  percentages  of  sugar  in  the  cane  were  as 
follows:4  15.05, 13.13, 12.97,  11.74,11.40,  12.50,15.01,11.70,  12.70,  15,20, 
12.59,  13.57,  15.42,  15.93,  1G.09,  15.37.  Mean  calculated  lor  juice,  15.16 
per  cent. 

In  1883  two  samples  of  sorghum  juice  were  analyzed  by  Dr.  II.  P. 
Armsby,  chemist  of  the  Wisconsin  Agricultural  Experiment  Station. 

The  results  are  given  in  the  first  annual  report  of  the  station,  p.  79: 


No.  1. 

No.  2. 

1%  r  crnt. 
<i.  15 

8.  n 

L2.00 

l\r  crnt. 
7  BS 

b.  a 

13.50 

Total  Mlidi 

1  Ann  All  <ii  A-griooltura  ml  sorgho  Ambrato,  Soma,  L883,  pp,  20  <t  *<<]■ 
•College  of  Agriculture,  University  of  California,  report,  1882,  p.  61, 
*Op.  olt.,  i>.  (il. 

.  Experimenl  Station,  Hull.  No.  x\x,  p.  7. 


79 

Swenson1  says  the  average  percentage  of  cane  sugar  in  sorghum 
grown  by  him  on  the  Wisconsin  farm  was  10.5  to  12.5. 

Weber2  reports  the  following  as  the  general  average  of  all  the  cane 
juices  manufactured  at  Champaign  during  the  year  1883  : 

Specific  gravity 1.  059 

Sucrose percent..  7.7- 

Glucose do 4. 76 

The  means  of  seventy  analyses  made  of  Amber  canes  at  Hutchinson, 
Kans.,  during  the  season  of  1883,  by  Prof.  M.  Swenson,  are  as  follows : 2 

Per  cent. 

Total  solids 14.2 

Sucrose 9.  3 

Glucose 2.8 

The  means  of  thirteen  analyses  of  the  cane  juices  from  the  large  mill 
at  Hutchinson,  Kans.,  give  the  following  numbers: 4 

Per  cent. 

Total  solids 15.7 

Sucrose 11.1 

Glucose 3. 3 

The  means  of  thirteen  analyses  of  Orange  cane  at  Hutchinson  during 
1883  are  as  follows:4 

Per  cent. 

Total  solids 13.1 

Sucrose 8.  7 

Glucose 3. 5 

Seven  analyses  of  the  juices  of  Link's  Hybrid  cane,  made  at  same  place 
in  1883,  are  as  follows : 4 

Per  cent 

Total  solids 13.2 

Sucrose 10.  3 

Glucose 2.13 

Means  of  two  analyses  of  the  juices  of  Honduras  cane,  made  at  the 
same  time  and  place,  are  as  follows:5 

Per  cent. 

Total  solids 15.9 

Sucrose < 10.2 

Glucose 3   1 

The  means  of  fifty-six  analyses  of  the  juices  of  sorghum,  chiefly  Amber, 
made  by  Prof.  M.  A.  Scovell,  at  Sterling,  Kans.,  in  L 883,  are  as  follows:' 

Per  cent. 

Sucrose 7.  45 

Glucoso 3. 61 

Not  sugar 3.13 

'Third  Annual  Meeting  Wisconsin  Cane-Grow,  i  -*   Association,    February, 
p.  1G;  edited  by  J.  A.  Field,  Saint  Louis,  Mo. 

2  Department  of  Agriculture,  Division  of  Chemistry,  Ball.  No.  i?,  p.  82. 

3  Op.  cit.,  p.  04. 
«  Op.  oft.,  p.  65. 

'  Op.  cit.,  p.  66. 
■  Op.  cit.,  p]>.  (17,08. 


80 

The  means  of  nine  analyses  of  Early  Amber  cane  juice,  made  by 
Prof.  G.  II.  Failyer,  of  the  Kansas  State  Agricultural  College,  at  Man- 
hattan, in  1883,  are  as  follows  : ! 

Per  cent. 

Total  solids 15.  35 

Sucrose 11. 72 

Glucose 1.  45 

The  means  of  six  analyses  made  b|T  the  same  person,  at  the  same 
place,  of  the  juices  of  Liuk's  Hybrid  cane,  are  as  follows:1 

Per  cent. 

Total  solids 11. 12 

Sucrose C.  13 

Glucose 2. 83 

Means  of  four  analyses  of  Kansas  Orange  cane  juice,  made  by  the 
same  person  at  same  place  and  time,  are  as  follows : 1 

Per  cent. 

Total  solids 14.91 

Sucrose 11. 28 

Glucose LOG 

One  analysis  of  Honduras  cane,  made  at  the  same  time  and  place  by 
Professor  Failyer,  gave — 

Sucrose per  cent..     9.7(5 

Glucose do....     3.29 

Specific  gravity 1.0G1 

The  means  of  sixteen  analyses  reported  by  F.  L.  Stewart  are  as  fol. 
lows:2 

Specific  gravity 1.  068 

Sucrose per  cent . .  12. 50 

Glucose do....     2.23 

I'rof.  W.  A.  Henry3  reports  the  analyses  of  twenty-one  samples  of 
sorghum  juices  from  different  varieties. 
I  lie  meail  results  are  as  follows: 

Per  cut. 

Sucrose 8.93 

Clucose 2.31 

In  L885  farther  analyses  were  made  of  field  samples  at  the  Rio 
Grande  factory  by  the  ohemist  of  the  Now  Jersey  station,  Dr.  Neale, 

All  the  samples  except  the  last  one  named  had  been  fertilized.  The 
jiiantity  <>f  SOgar   in   the  cane  of  the  several  samples  was  as  follows:4 

1  Op,  oil,  pp.  I  - 

Fourth  Annual  Report  Neu  York  state  Sugar-Growers'  Ajuooiation,  p.  44. 

Second  Annual  Report  Wisconsin  Agricultural  Experiment  station,]).  33 
4 New  .!>  i  i  riment  station.  Boll.  No.  \\  \  vim.  p.  10. 


81 

7.18,  7.5G,  7.48,  G.57,  7.29,  7.14,  7.50,  6.2G,  7.50,  8.19,  8.30,  7.54,  7.46,  G.4G, 
6.17.    Mean  calculated  for  juice,  7.9G. 

After  the  experiments  above  mentioned  all  the  canes  of  the  experi- 
mental plots  were  cut  and  passed  through  the  large  mill,  and  the  ex- 
pressed juices  sampled  and  analyzed. 

The  respective  percentages  of  sucrose  in  these  juices  were  as  fol- 
lows :  l  8.C9,  8.23,  9.9G,  8.89,  9.70,  9.48,  9.96,  9.12,  11.30,11.21,11.38, 
11.16, 11.03,  8.87,  9.18.    Mean,  9.88. 

Twenty-six  tons  of  early  orange  cane  was  found  by  another  analysis 
to  contain  7.25  per  cent,  sucrose  :2 


Composition  of  sorghum  juices  from  large  mill  at  Mo  Grande,  N.  J.,  for  the  four  seasons 
from  1882  to  1885,  inclusive* 

SUCROSE. 

[Averages  for  each  week.] 


1882." 

1883. ■ 

1884.  6 

1885.' 

Ter  cent. 

Ter  cent. 

Per  cent. 

Ter  cent. 

10.  35 

9.70 

9. 1'O 

(i.  GO 

11.33 

10.37 

9.64 

8.03 

11.61 

S.  56 

!).  10 

8.39 

11.50 

'.).  22 

10.  9G 

8.70 

10.08 

D.  50 

11.10 

8.94 

11.58 

9.70 

12.60 

10.  04 

10.  85 

10.  86 

10.25 

10.00 

11.(0 
10.50 
11.38 

10.74 
!).  95 
9.42 

10.33 
9.  90 

8.70 

11.11" 

9.75« 

10.  25" 

8.7G8 

4  From  Sept.  4  to  Nov.  G. 

5  From  Sept.  10  to  Nov.  12. 

6  From  Sept.  8  to  Nov.  10. 

7  From  Sept.  2  to  Oct.  12. 

8  Mean. 

For  188G  the  mean  percentage  of  sucrose  in  the  cane  as  reported  by 
the  New  Jersey  Experiment  Station  was  114  to  120  pounds  per  ton. 

Mean  in  cane  (pounds) 11? 

Mean  per  cent,  sucrose  in  cane 5. 85 

M<an  per  cent,  sucroso  in  juice 0. 54 

The  general  average  content  of  sucrose  in  the  mill  juices  at  Bio 
Grande  for  the  live  years  is  9.28  per  cent. 

The  means  of  ninety-eight  analyses  made  in  L886  by  Professor  Stubbs, 
director  of  the  experiment  station  at  Kenner,  La., were  as  follows:4 

Per  tent. 

Sucroso 11.92 

Total  solids 16.34 

1  Op.  cit.,  p.  10. 
5  Op.  cit.,  p.  15. 


'Ms.  from  Mr.  li.  a.  Hughes,  superintendent. 
*  Louisiana  Sogai  Experiment  Station,  Kenne 
2357G— Bull  IS 6 


La.,  Bnll,  No.5,  pp.C  and  7,  L88U, 


82 

In  1880  the  New  Jersey  station  continued  its  analyses  at  Uio  Grande, 
The  percentage  of  sucrose  in  the  cane  varied  from  114  to  120  pounds 
per  ton.1 

COMPARISON    Or   MILL  AND  DIFFUSION  JUICES  FOR  1SSG. 

At  Kio  Grande  the  chemist  of  the  New  Jersey  station  made  analyses 
for  the  purpose  of  comparing  mill  and  diffusion  juices.2 
The  means  are  as  follows  : 


Mill  juice. 

Diffusion 
juice 

Per  cent. 

8.93 

12.99 

68.75 

Per  cent. 

7.59 

11.56 

65.57 

Total  solids 

Purity 

A  mean  of  eight  experiments  made  by  J.  F.  Willcox,  of  New  York,3 
iu  18SG  shows  9  per  cent,  sucrose  in  sorghum  juice. 

ANALYTICAL  DATA    FROM   TIIE   EXPERIMENTS  AT    THE    NEW  JERSEY 
AGRICULTURAL   STATION. 

The  systematic  investigations  made  by  Dr.  Geo.  II.  Cook,  director  of 
the  New  Jersey  Agricultural  Experiment  Station,  have  already  been 
quoted  in  the  data  given.  These  experiments  were  commenced  in  1881 
and  have  been  continued  every  year  since.  The  chemical  work  has  been 
in  charge  of  Dr.  A.  T.  Xeale.  The  results  of  these  experiments  have 
been  bo  interesting  and  instructive  that  I  have  grouped  them  together. 

In  1881  fourteen  varieties  were  planted,  of  which  only  five  matured.4 
The  sucrose  in  the  juice  of  these  five  matured  varieties  was  as  follows  : 
Per  r.nt.,  8.58,  7.28,  0.50,  7.00, 14.06.    Mean,  8.S0  per  cent. 

The  same  season  '  sixteen  plots  of  Early  Amber  were  treated  with 
various  fertilizers,  ami  the  yield  of  sugar  calculated  per  acre. 

The  percentages  of  sucrose  in  the  juice  of  the  several  plots  were  as 
follows:  9.70,9.43,9,9.27,9.68,  9.94,10.51,11.65,  11.43,9.84,9.57,  11.61, 
9.73,9.44,  12.01.     Mean,  10.16. 

In  respect  of  the  experiments  Dr.  Cook  makes  the  following  report:6 

Aftel  0  Btruggle,  which  has  now  lasted  more  than  1  went y-five  years,  BOTglmm  to- 
day docs  not  occupy  its  true  position  among  sugar-producing  plants,  its  advocate- 
lastly  claim  thai  this  is  dm-  t  o  our  lack  of  information,  not  only  in  regard  to  the  man  us 
factore  of  SQgar  from  it,  hut  also  in  respect  to  its  proper  cultivation.     For  some  time 

past  authorities  have  fell  that  the  Lope  of  having  a  small  sngar-honsc  on  each  farm 

most  be  abandoned,  and  thai  onr  attention  must  be  turned  towards  the  more  rational 

1  Prof,  a  EI. Cook,  Rural  Wo. 1,1,  duly  7,  1-;. 

venth  Ann.  Report    New  Jersey  Agricultural  Experiment  Station,  L886,  p.  1  K), 

IIS,  i  ommunicat  Ion  to  aai  nor. 

'Second  Ann.  Report  New  Jersej  Experiment  Station)  p.  43. 
(•Op.cit  ,  pp.  44,  15. 
*Oj).cit.,  pp. 46, 47. 


83 

plan  of  thoroughly  equipped  manufactories,  iu  which  the  sorghum  grown  on  neigh- 
boring farms  can  be  worked  quickly  and  economically  by  skilled  operatives. 

The  result  of  the  season's  experiments  is  decidedly  encouraging,  considering  the  un- 
favorable circumstances.  There  has  been  a  drought  of  unprecedented  severity  and 
length,  so  that  the  corn  crop  on  the  college  farm  was  not  more  than  one-quarter  its 
usual  amount.  And  yet  the  results  of  sorghum  growing  on  the  same  farm,  as  given 
in  the  above  table,  are  respectable.  With  a  season  having  the  average  rain-fall  a 
crop  weighing  from  two  to  three  times  as  much  as  that  of  the  present  one  may  safely 
be  calculated  on. 

In  1882  experiments  were  made  on  two  plots  on  autumn  and  spring 
plowed  ground.  Eacli  plot  was  divided  into  sixteen  sections,  on  which 
different  fertilizers  were  employed. 

The  mean  percentages  of  sucrose  in  the  juice  for  the  two  plots  are  as 
follows : l 

First  plot 13. 16 

Secoml  plot. 12.2 

The  season  was  again  reported  as  unfavorable.2 

The  plants  came  up  quickly  aud  grew  rapidly  from  the  first,  so  that  no  special 
trouble  was  experienced  in  hoeing  or  cultivating  it.  It  came  forward  with  strong  and 
stout  canes  until  near  the  middle  of  August,  when  a  very  severe  drought  set  in.  The 
growth  of  the  cane  was  entirely  stopped  for  some  weeks,  when  it  was  about  G  feet 
high.  Finally  stunted-looking  seed-heads  partially  developed  in  irregular  patches 
and  streaks  over  the  field ;  most  of  the  seed  was  blasted,  and  many  of  the  stalks  failed 
to  head  out.  The  height  of  the  crop  was  2  or  3  feet  below  the  normal  growth.  When 
the  rains  came  in  September  new  shoots  forked  out  from  the  upper  joints  aud  unfolded 
slender  heads,  but  it  was  too  late  in  the  season,  and  no  seeds  ripened  on  them. 

We  judge  that  the  crop  of  cane  was  not  half  what  it  would  have  been  in  a  favorable 
season,  and  that  of  the  seed  not  one-third  of  a  full  crop.  Tho  percentage  of  juice  in 
the  canes  was  also  much  lower  than  is  natural  in  properly-grown  sorghum. 

The  effects  of  the  drought  were  irregular  on  tho  field,  not  following  any  of  the  lines 
which  marked  the  plots  and  fertilizers,  so  that  we  can  draw  no  satisfactory  conclu- 
sions from  the  experiments  on  fertilizers  either  in  the  production  of  cane  and  seed  or 
on  the  quality  and  amount  of  the  juice  or  sugar. 

Our  uniform  course  is  to  record  our  failures  as  well  as  our  successes,  and  this  is 
published,  though  it  is  a  disappointment  and  a  failure  which  we  could  not  avoid. 

Iii  1883  the  results  of  the  experiments  were  still  more  encouraging. 

The  means  of  the  percentages  of  sucrose  in  the  juice  of  sixteen 
samples  from  as  many  different  plots  was  15. 1G.3 

The  average  quantity  of  sugar  produced  per  acre,  based  on  the  above 
analyses,  was  3,0G3  pounds. 

Some  of  the  conclusions  derived  from  the  above  set  of  experiments 
are  of  a  remarkable  character.4 

Even  when  a  mill  expresses  from  50  to  60  per  cent,  of  juice  from  stripped  and  topped  mu,, 
it  mat;  yd  leave  more  titan  one-half  of  the  sugar  iu  the  bagasse.  This  fact  COD  l>e  best 
shown  by  an  example.  The  oane  on  plot  1 1  contained  1,11'J  pounds  of  sugar  per  acre. 
of  this  the  mill  expressed  1,983  pounds,  leaving  In  the  bagasse  52  per  cent,  of  the 
sugar  which  the  cane  contained.  This  result  is  the  most  favorable  in  the  experiment. 
Tho  other  extreme  is  found  on  plot  10,  where  nearly  70  per  cent.  <'t"  the  sngar  was 

'Third  Annual  Report  New  Jersey  agricultural  experiment  station,  pp.  64, 65. 

1  Op.  oft,  pp.  61, 62. 

'Fourth Annual  Report  New  Jersey  Experiment  station, p. 70. 

1  Op.  cit.,  pp.  C7.G8. 


84 

wasted.  In  eleven  other  cases  the  loss  exceeds  GO  per  cent.  Apparently  the  greener 
the  cane  the  smaller  the  loss  of  sugar  by  the  milling  process. 

To  explain  this  loss  it  is  necessary  to  assume  that  a  considerable  portion  of  the 
sugar  is  stored  in  the  cane  in  a  solid  state,  either  aspuro  crystallized  sugar  or  in  some 
combination  easily  decomposed  or  dissolved  in  water.  It  is  claimed  that  the  micro- 
scope has  shown  crystals  of  sugar  in  the  cells  of  the  sorghum  ;  if  this  is  true,  it  is 
irrational  to  attempt  the  perfect  separation  of  sugar  from  the  cane  fiber  by  mechani- 
cal means.  For  attaining  this  end  the  process  of  diffusion  seems  to  be  the  most  prac- 
tical and  promising  method.  It  has  been  thoroughly  tested  and  generally  adopted 
by  the  beet-sugar  industry,  and  experiments  thus  far  reported  indicate  tbat  it  is  also 
applicable  to  the  sorghum  and  tropical  caue. 

Mr.  II.  B.  Blackwell  states  in  tho  Boston  Journal  of  Chemistry  that  by  following 
this  process  he  was  able  without  difficulty  to  make  13  pounds  of  crystallized  sugar 
and  G  pounds  of  good  sirup  from  100  pounds  of  Amber  cane. 

In  my  opinion  natural  crystals  of  sugar  never  exist  in  healthy  sor- 
ghum canes.     In  1883  I  bad  this  subject  thoroughly  examined.1 

Six  hundred  sections  of  sorgbum  and  sugar  canes  failed  to  show  a 
single  crystal  of  sugar.  In  very  dry  seasons  the  juice  of  sorghum  has 
been  known  to  exude  tbrougb  perforations  made  by  an  insect  and  to 
crystallize  on  tbe  outside  of  tbe  stalk.  A  sample  of  very  pure  cane 
sugar  formed  in  tbis  way  was  sent  to  me  last  year  (188G)  by  Mr.  A.  A. 
Denton,  of  Kansas. 

In  1884  tbe  following  data  were  obtained  as  tbe  result  of  tbe  experi- 
ments at  tbe  station.2 

Tbere  were  sixteen  plots  Early  Amber  all  fertilized  but  two.  The  per- 
centage of  sucrose  in  tbe  cane  was  8.53  and  in  tbe  juice  9.30.  The  aver- 
age total  sugar  per  acre  for  the  sixteen  plots  was  l,7o2  pounds.  Two 
additional  plots  were  planted  in  Amber  and  Orange  canes  respectively, 
no  fertilizers  being  used.3 

Tbe  total  sucrose  in  tbe  Amber  plot  was,  lor  the  cane  0.20  per  cent., 
and  for  tbe  juice  10.12  per  cent. 

For  tbe  Orange  tbe  numbers  were:  for  the  cane  6.57  per  cent.,  and 
for  tbe  juice  7.22  per  cent. 

A  plot  of  amber  cane,  from  seed  sent  by  Professor  Henry,  of  Wis- 
consin, showed  in  the  same  conditions  as  above  :* 

Pat  cent. 

Sucrose  in  cane 8.  «">:; 

Sucrose  in  juice 9,40 

The  intensely  hot  weather  following  May  1 1.  the  date  of  planting,  was  decidedly 

unfavorable  for  sorghnm.  Tin1  soil  "baked"  hard,  the  Amber  seed  germinated 
slowly,  tin-  "moping"  period  appeared  to  be  unusually  prolonged,  ami  tho  plants  in 
many  bills  perished,  especially  upon  plots  12  to  IC,  inclusive,  For-  a  longtime  the 
experiment  was  regarded  as  a  failure,  and  received  comparatively  little  attention. 
Later  tie-  development  was  remarkable,  and  tin-  yield  of  cane  from  several  of  the 
plots  was  above  the  average  ;  in  quality,  however,  in  all  oases  it  fell  far  below  pro- 
\  ions  results.0 

1  Department  of  Agriculture,  Division  of  Chemistry,  Bull.  No.  9,  p.  6, 

-'  Fifth  Aim.  Report  New  Jersey  Agricultural  Experiment  station,  pp.  84,  86. 

3  Op,  >,!.,  p.  7i>. 

*  Oj>.  vit.,  p.  90. 

*  Op.  cit.,  p.  81. 


85 

Iii  1885  comparative  experiments  were  made  with  native  Amber  seed, 
Amber  seed  from  Prof.  W.  A.  Henry,  and  native  Orange  seed. 
The  percentages  of  sucrose  in  the  three  kinds  of  canes  were  as  follows:1 


In  the  cane.  In  the  juice. 

Native  Amber 

Wisconsin  Amber 

Native  Orange 

Per  cent. 
8.98 
10.40 
7.38 

Per  cent. 
9.87 
11.44 
8.11 

Sixteen  plots  all  fertilized  save  two  were  planted  in  Early  Amber  and 
the  following  data  were  obtained : 2 

Mean  sucrose  in  canes percent..     9.37 

Mean  sucrose  in  juice do 10.  30 

Average  weight  sugar  per  acre pounds..  2,  372 

Another  set  of  experiments  was  made  at  Rio  Grande  with  the  co- 
operation of  Mr.  George  0.  Potts  and  Mr.  H.  A.  Hughes.  The  follow- 
ing data  were  obtained.  Early  Orange  cane,  sixteen  plots,  all  fertilized 
but  one : 3 

Mean  percentage  sucrose  in  juice 9. 88 

Total  weight  sugar  per  acre pounds . .  2, 508 

Id  reviewing  the  operations  of  the  Rio  Grande  factory  for  the  past 
five  years,  Professor  Cook  says : 4 

The  records  of  this  plantation  for  the  past  five  years  show  that  upon  tho  average 
7.7  tons  of  unstripped  and  untopped  cane  only  have  been  grown  per  acre,  while  the 
average  yield  of  merchantable  sugar  per  ton  of  cane  has  not  exceeded  40  pounds. 

To  compete  successfully  with  other  sources  of  cane  sugar,  therefore,  tho  average 
tonnage  of  good  cano  per  acre  should  he  at  least  doubled,  while  the  quantity  of  mer- 
chantable sugar  secured  per  acre  should  be  increased  many  fold. 

In  188G  the  experiments  at  Rio  Grande  were  continued.  Sixteen 
plots  all  fertilized  but  one  were  planted  in  Early  Orange  Cane.  The  fol- 
lowing data  were  obtained  : 5 

Cane  (leaves  and  seed)  per  acre pounds..  13,383 

Clean  cane  per  acre do 10, 448 

Sucrose  in  clean  cane per  cent..  7.95 

Total  weight  sugar  per  acre pounds..  905 

Professor  Cook  makes  the  following  remarks  on  the  results  of  the 
season : c 

Three  years  ago  it  was  clearly  seen  that  tho  Rio  Grande  Company  failed  to  secure 
one-half  of  tho  total  amount  of  sugar  present  in  its  sorghum  crops,  and  since  that 
time  all  energies  have  been  directed  toward  tho  substitution  of  diffusion  for  milling. 

1  Sixth  Annual  Report  Now  Jersey  Agricultural  Experimental  Station,  p.  109. 

» Op.  eU.,  p.  111. 

3  Op.  eie.jp.126. 

*  Op.  cit.,\>.  119. 

•Seventh  Annual  Report  New  Jersey  Experimental  station,  p.  151. 

8  Op.  cit.,  p.  111. 


86 

The  obstacles  to  this  change,  met  at  the  very  beginning,  have  at  last  been  overcome, 
and  70  per  cent,  of  the  sugar  in  the  cane  has  this  year  been  extracted  and  sold.  In- 
formation has  also  been  gained  which  shows  how  90  per  cent,  of  the  total  sugar  may 
be  secured  in  the  future. 

It  still  remains  to  bo  demonstrated  that  this  industry  can  be  made  a  financial  suc- 
cess. 

The  chemical  analysis  of  cane,  showing  its  percentage  of  sugar  only,  is  far  from  re- 
liable information  on  this  question  if  unaccompanied  by  the  actual  weight  of  crop 
per  acre. ;  A  normal  evaporation  of  water  from  a  crop,  for  instance,  may  cause  an 
apparent  improvement  in  its  quality,  but  as  this  evaporation  is  accompanied  by  a 
corresponding  loss  of  weight,  it  leaves  the  absolute  amount  of  sugar  per  acre  un- 
changed. Again,  the  percentage  of  sugar  in  the  juice  may  remain  constaut  while  the 
quantity  of  juice  to  be  secured  from  an  acre  of  cane  may  be  steadily  decreasing,  in- 
volving thereby  a  loss  in  the  absolute  amount  of  sugar. 

During  the  period  October  9-23,  728  tons  of  unstripped  and  untopped  sorghum  were 
diffused,  and  an  average  yield  per  ton  of  80  pounds  of  100°  test  sugar  thereby  se- 
cured. Of  this  80  pounds,  55.7  pounds  crystallized  and  24.3  pounds  remained  in  the 
molasses.  This  cane  was  grown  principally  upon  banked  meadows,  and  although  it 
may  have  passed  its  best  stage  as  regards  sugar  production,  it  was  not  considered 
u  dried  up  "  or  pithy. 

On  the  1st,  2d,  and  3d  of  November  241  tons  of  unstripped  and  untopped  cane  were 
diffused,  and  an  average  yield  per  ton  of  50  pounds  of  100°  test  sugar  thereby  se- 
cured, of  which  30  pounds  crystallized  and  20  pounds  remained  in  the  molasses. 
This  cane  was  grown  upon  upland  which  had  been  heavily  dressed  with  stable  ma- 
nure. Early  in  the  fall  it  was  considered  a  first-class  crop,  and,  as  it  was  within  easy 
reach  of  the  sugar-house,  it  was  held  in  reserve  to  be  used  in  case  any  emergency 
made  it  difficult  to  secure  the  necessary  supply  from  more  distant  fields.  This  sor- 
ghum affords  an  unusual  example  of  an  over-ripe,  pithy  crop. 

The  green  cane  yielded  80  pounds  and  the  pithy  cane  50  pounds  of  100°  test  sugar 
per  ton.  If,  therefore,  this  loss  of  sugar  was  accompanied  by  losses  in  tonnage  as 
heavy  as  farmers  claim,  then  milling  wastes  at  once  sink  into  comparative  insignifi- 
cance. For  if  one-half  of  the  tonnage  disappears,  and  if  at  the  same  time  that  por- 
tion of  the  crop  which  remained  depreciates  40  per  cent,  in  value  to  the  sugar  boiler, 
it  follows  that  two-thirds  of  the  sugar  formed  in  the  plant  may  be  wasted  by  delays 
in  field- work. 

This  reasoning  rests  upon  claims  and  assumptions  which  can  be  easily  and  thor- 
oughly investigated  ;  it  indicates  that  the  most  important  question  now  awaiting 
solution  is,  "At  what  stage  in  its  growth  should  sorghum  be  harvested  '" 


MANUFACTURF  OF  SUGAR, 
EXPERIMENTAL. 

The  li i- -it  sorghum  sugar  made   in  this  count ry  appears  to  have  been 

in  an  experiment  by  Dr.  Battey,  of  Rome,  Ga.,  in  the  laboratory  of 
Dr.  Booth  in  Philadelphia.1 

We  \\  ill  give  farther  results  of  experiments  made  at  the  South,  and  quote  from  the 

Southern  Cultivator  for  October,  L656:  •■  in  the  winter  of  l844-'46'  the  junior  editor 

of  this  journal  obtained  from  Boston  a  fewouna  <l  of  this  plant  (Chinese 

sugar-cane),  then  nem  ly  Imported  from  Prance,    it  same  very  highly  recommended 

mgar-producing  ;m<l  forage  plan!  ;  but,  having  ■  vivid  recollection  of  many  pro- 

1  (>)>.  n'.'.,  pp.  153  i  /  peg. 

•  I  h< ■  <  i Be  Sugai  Cane, by  James  P.  C.  Hyde,  New  fork,  1857,  pp.  16  ei  teq. 

■This  is  probably  n  mistake  and  meant  I B5 1 


87 

vious  disappointments  with  new-fangled  notions,  we  concluded  to  test  it  cautiously 
and  moderately.  Passing  by  it  one  day,  when  the  seeds  were  nearly  or  quite 
ripe,  we  concluded  to  test  the  sweetness  of  the  stalk;  so  cutting  a  moderate-sized 
cane  and  peeling  its  hard  outside  coat,  we  found  an  exceedingly  sweet  and  pleasant 
flavor,  wholly  and  entirely  unlike  anything  of  the  corn-stalk  family  that  we  had  ever 
tasted.     It  was,  in  fact,  ready-made  cand\ . 

"  Fully  satisfied  by  this  time  that  it  was  valuable,  at  least  for  the  production  of 
soiling,  forage,  and  dried  fodder,  we  next  turned  our  attention  to  its  saccharine  prop- 
erties, and  fortunately  induced  our  friend,  Dr.  Robert  Battey,  of  Rome,  Ga.,  who  was 
at  that  time  pursuing  the  study  of  experimental  chemistry  in  the  well-known  labora- 
tory of  Professor  Booth,  of  Philadelphia,  to  test  it.  As  the  result  of  his  experiment 
Dr.  Battey  sent  us  three  small  phials,  one  containing  a  fine  sirup,  one  a  very  good 
sample  of  crude  brown  sugar,  and  the  other  a  very  good  sample  of  crystallized  sugar. 
This  we  believe  to  be  the  first  crystallized  sugar  made  in  the  United  States  from  the 
juice  of  the  sorgho-sucr6." 

Experiments  were  made  by  Joseph  S.  Lovering  at  Oakhill,  near  Phila- 
delphia, in  1857,  in  the  manufacture  of  sugar  from  sorghum.  The  first 
experiment  was  made  September  30.  In  view  of  the  voluminous  liter- 
ature on  this  subject  in  the  thirty  years  that  have  passed  since  this  ex- 
periment was  made,  I  give  Mr.  Lovering's  own  description  of  it:1 

The  fact  of  the  presence  of  crystallizable  sugar  in  the  cane  being  established,  I  pro- 
ceeded to  cut  and  grind  20  feet  of  a  row,  and  passed  the  thirty  canes  which  it  pro- 
duced three  times  through  the  rollers;  about  one-fourth  of  the  seed  had  changed  to  a 
dark  glistening  brown  color,  but  was  still  milky;  the  remainder  was  quite  green; 
ground  six  to  eight  of  the  lower  joints,  which  together  yielded  3j  gallons  of  juice, 
weighing  9°Beaume;  neutralized  the  free  acid  by  adding  milk  of  lime  ;  clarified  with 
eggs  and  boiled  it  down  to  240°  F. 

This  first  experiment  looked  discouraging  and  unpromising  at  every  step;  its 
product  was  a  very  dark,  thick,  viscid  mass,  apparently  a  caput  mortuum  ;  it  stood  six 
days  without  the  sign  of  a  crystal,  when  it  was  placed  over  a  Hue  and  kept  warm 
four  days  longer,  when  I  found  a  pretty  good  crop  of  soft  crystals,  the  whole  very 
similar  to  the  "  melada**  obtained  from  Cuba,  but  of  darker  color. 

Lovering's  fourth  experiment  was  made  on  one  fiftieth  of  an  acre.  It 
yielded  18.5G  pounds  of  sugar  and  23.73  pounds  molasses.2 

Calculated  to  1  ;  ere  this  gives  928  pounds  sugar  and  98.87  gallons 
molasses. 

A  footnote  informs  us:3 

Neither  the  scales  in  which  this  juice  was  weighed  nor  the  quart  measure  in  which 
it  was  measured  were  sufficiently  delicate  or  accurate  to  give  precise  results,  and  as 
Ihey  form  the  basis  of  these  calculations,  the  percentages  are  probably  not  absolutely 
exact,  but  they  are  sufficiently  so  for  all  practical  purposes. 

Three  other  experiments  were  made  by  Mr.  Lovering,  but  with  results 
less  favorable  than  Xo.  4. 

The  fashion  in  excuses  for  failure  in  sorghum-sugar  making  was  early 
set  by  Mr.  Lovering. 

In  the  fifth  experiment4 he  observed  "a  very  sodden  and  unfavorable 
change  in  the  working  of  the  juice,"  which  ho  ascribes  to  the  weather 
u  becoming  and  continuing  very  warm." 

The  sixth  experiment,  November  27,    v>  as  mad€  after  warm  Indian  .summer  weather, 

with  heavy  rains,  also  veryoold  weather,  making  ice  2  inches  in  thickness,  thermome- 

6  Op.  cit.,  pp.  20-21. 


1  Op.  cit.  p.  7. 

.  oil.  p.   17. 

9  Op.  cit.,  p.  111. 

•  Op.  eft,  p.  L9. 

88 

ter  having  varied  from  16°  to  60°.  To  try  the  effect  of  these  changes,  I  cut  one- 
hundredth  part  of  an  acre,  which  produced  11.15  gallons  of  juice  only,  instead  of  19 
or  20  gallons,  as  before.  It  had,  however,  regained  its  former  weight  of  full  10°  B., 
but  was  much  more  acid,  rank,  and  dark-colored  than  previously.  It  clarified  with- 
out difficulty,  but  raised  a  much  thicker  and  denser  scum,  and,  when  concentrated, 
was  very  dark  and  molasses-like;  it,  however,  produced  good,  hard,  sharp  crystals, 
but  the  quantity  being  much  reduced,  there  was  no  inducement  to  pursue  it  further. 
This  experiment  proves,  however,  that  this  cane  will  withstand  very  great  vicissi- 
tudes of  weather  without  the  entire  destruction  of  its  saccharine  properties. 

On  page  2L  Mr.  Loveriug  announces  as  a  fundamental  principle  a 
rule  of  analysis  which  he  followed,  which,  unfortunately,  has  not  char- 
acterized all  subsequent  investigations.     He  says : 1 

The  foregoing  are  all  actual  results  produced  by  myself  (the  polariscopic  observa- 
tions having  been  taken  on  the  spot,  under  the  supervision  of  my  partner,  Mr.  Will- 
iam Morris  Davis),  with  no  object  in  view  but  the  truth  and  a  desire  to  contribute 
whatever  useful  information  I  could  towards  the  solution  of  this  interesting  and  im- 
portant question. 

But  even  thus  early  he  was  led  into  the  error  of  making  sorghum 
sugar  on  paper,  a  process  which  for  ease  and  profit  is  far  superior  to 
making  it  from  canes,  and  which,  unfortunately,  has  been  largely  prac- 
ticed since  these  days  of  initial  experiments.  Taking  only  his  experi- 
ment No.  4,  he  figures  a  yield  of  1,466.22  pounds  of  sugar  and  74.39 
gallons  molasses  per  acre,  adding2 

Further,  it  will  be  observed  that  my  acre  produced  but  1,847  gallons  of  juice.  I 
have,  however,  seen  published  accounts  of  far  greater  yields  than  this— ouo  for  in- 
stance, in  this  county,  apparently  well  authenticated,  reaching  6,800  gallons  per  acre, 
which,  according  to  my  actual  results  would  produco  4,499  pounds  of  sugar  and  274 
gallons  of  molasses,  and  according  to  the  foregoing  probable  results,  would  yield 
5,389  pounds  of  sugar  and  274  gallons  to  the  acre. 

Mr.  Lovering  was  also  the  fust  one  to  show  (on  paper)  that  sorghum 
was  quite  as  One  a  sugar-making  crop  as  the  sugarcane  in  Louisiana. 
He  makes  the  following  comparison  :3 


Yield  of  juice  per  acre gallons 

Density  of  juice  (Banme)     degrees 

Field  of  sugar  per  gallon  of  juice  ..  pounds 
field  of  sugar  per  acre: 

Actual pounds.. 

Probable  do 

Field  of  molas  as  p<  i  acre  i 

Actual gallons 

Probable do  —  . 


Louisiana. 


-  n 
.78 


Pennsylvania. 


1,704 

102 


1, 847 

10.00 
.  88 

1,221.85 
1,812.00 

71.  :u) 
81.83 


As  a  resull  of  the  study  of  all  his  experiments,  he  arrives  at  the  fol- 
lowing conclusions : ' 

(1)  Thai  it  La  obvious  that  there  is  a  culminating  point  in  the  development  of  the 
Mgarin  theoane,  srhloh  is  the  boat  time  for  sugar  making.  This  point  or  season  I 
consider  to  be  when  most  if  not  all  the  seeds  are  ripe,  and  after  several  frosts,  Bay 
when  the  temporal  are  falls  to  25    oi  30    I '. 


Op.  ■  If.,  pp.  "-'I  and  29. 
•  Op.  oil  .  pp.  23  24 


"  (>p.  (it.  p,  25. 
4  nf).  rlt..  pp.  26,  27 


89 

(2)  That  frost,  or  even  hard  freezing,  does  not  injure  the  juice  nor  the  sugar,  but  that 
warm  Indian  summer  weather,  after  the  frost  and  hard  freezing,  does  injure  them 
very  materially,  and  reduces  both  quantity  and  quality. 

(3)  That  if  the  cane  is  cut  and  housed,  or  shocked  in  the  field  when  in  its  most  favor- 
able condition,  it  will  probably  Eeep  unchanged  for  a  long  time. 

(4)  That  when  the  juice  is  obtained  the  process  should  proceed  continuously  and 
without  delay. 

(5)  That  the  clarification  should  be  as  perfect  as  possible  by  the  time  the  density 
reached  15°  Baume",  the  sirup  having  tho  appearance  of  good  brandy. 

(6)  That  although  eggs  were  used  in  these  small  experiments,  on  account  of  their 
convenience,  bullock's  blood,  if  to  be  had,  is  equally  good,  and  the  milk  of  lime  alone 
will  answer  the  purpose  ;  in  tho  latter  case,  however,  more  constant  and  prolonged 
skimming  will  be  required  to  produce  a  perfect  clarification,  which  is  highly  impor- 
tant. 

(7)  That  the  concentration  or  boiling  down,  after  clarification,  should  be  as  rapid 
as  possible  without  scorching,  shallow  evaporators  being  the  best. 

With  these  conditions  secured,  it  is  about  as  easy  to  make  good  sugar  from  the 
Chinese  cane  as  to  make  a  pot  of  good  mush,  aud  much  easier  than  to  make  a  kettle 
of  good  apple-butter. 

EXPERIMENT  BY  PROF.  C  A.  GOESSM ANN. 

Iii  1857  Professor  Goessniann  obtained  from  1,440  grains  of  sorghum 
juice,  by  two  crystallizations  aud  washing  the  crystals  with  alcohol,  120 
grams  of  sugar.1    Professor  Goessmanu  says:2 

As  I  before  mentioned,  J.  S.  Lovering  obtained  in  practice  7  to  d  per  cent,  of  sugar 
without  estimating  the  amount  left  in  the  molasses.  I  found  from  9  to  0£  percent,  in 
the  juice;  and  Mr.  Wray,  an  Englishman,  who  examined  .several  species  of  sorghum 
at  Cape  Natal,  on  the  southeastern  coast  of  Africa,  found  the  percentage  almost  equal 
to  that  of  the  real  sugar  cane,  18  per  cent.  I  mention  these  facts  to  show  what  may 
be  expected  when  the  sorghum  shall  have  received  the  attention  of  our  farmers  and 
have  become  acclimatized  on  a  suitable  soil.  The  transplantation  of  a  plant  to 
a  new  and  perhaps  less  congenial  climato  and  soil  invariably  exerts  at  first  an  inju- 
rious influence  on  the  vital  principle  and  its  products.  When  the  beet  root  was  first 
cultivated  for  the  manufacture  of  sugar  it  contained  only  7  to  8  per  cent,  of  sugar, 
but  by  the  application  of  proper  care  to  the  cultivation  and  to  seleetiug  tho  best 
specimens  for  seed  tho  percentage  was  increased  to  from  11  to  12  in  soino  sp- 
Should  it  bo  possible  to  increase  the  percentage  of  sugar  in  the  sorghum  in  the  same 
ratio,  its  successful  cultivation  wTould  become  an  accomplished  faet ;  and  our  farmers, 
aided  by  their  superior  skill,  more  perfect  machinery,  and  many  other  advantages  af- 
forded by  this  country,  would  be  able  to  compete  successfully  with  the  planters  of  the 
West  Indies. 

Between  the  dates  of  the  experiments  recorded  above  and  1878  hun- 
dreds of  successful  attempts  to  manufacture  sorghum  sugar  as  a  by 
product  of  molasses  were  made  in  the  United  States.  I  say  successful 
in  the  sense  that  they  demonstrated  beyond  any  doubt  the  possibility 
of  making  sugar,  although  they  threw  no  light  on  either  the  scientific 
or  economic  problems  involved.  I  therefore  omit  any  farther  discussion 
of  them  here. 

Numerous  experiments  were  made  by  Dr.  Collier,  chemist  of  the  De- 

1  Sorghum  Saceharatum,  republished  from  Transaction!  N.    T,  State  Agricultural 
Socioty,  1861,  p.  'J I. 
8  Op.  cit.,  pp,  90,  '27. 


90 

partment  of  Agriculture  iu  18S8,  iu  the  production  ot  sugar  from  sor- 
gbuui  and  maize  stalks.1 
Dr.  Collier  says  of  these  experiments  :2 

The  point  which  these  experiments  have  fully  settled  is,  that  there  exists  no  diffi- 
culty in  making  from  either  corn  or  sorghum  a  first-rate  quality  of  sugar,  which  will 
compare  favorably  with  the  best  product  from  sugar-cane  grown  in  the  most  favor- 
able localities. 

The  experiments  here  given  clearly  indicate  the  probability  that  sugar  may  bo 
thus  made  at  a  profit,  and  it  is  desirable  that  nothing  be  spared  in  continuing  au  in- 
vestigation giving  such  fair  promise  of  success. 

The  experiments  in  the  production  of  sugar  were  continued  by  the 
Department  of  Agriculture  in  1879. 3  The  sugar  was  not  separated 
from  the  molasses  except  in  one  case,  but  the  percentage  of  sucrose 
in  the  melada  is  given. 

The  melada  from  Chinese  sorghum  gave  54.7  percent. sugar.4  Some 
of  the  analyses  seem  to  show  a  loss  of  glucose,  and  in  one  instance  this 
loss  is  given  at  144.5  per  cent.5 

On  this  point  Dr.  Collier  says  :6 

The  presence  of  the  same  relative  proportions  of  crystallizable  and  uncrystallizable 
sugar  in  a  sirup  to  those  present  in  the  juice  from  which  this  sirup  has  been  prepared 
by  no  means  implies  that  there  has  been  no  inversion  of  the  crystallizable  sugar ;  for 
the  destructive  action  of  an  excess  of  lime  upon  glucose  is  well  known  and  is  not  un- 
frequently  made  available  in  the  production  of  sugar.  Hence,  it  not  nnfreqnently 
happens  that  the  relative  quantity  of  crystallizable  sugar  in  the  sirup  may  be  greatly 
in  excess  of  that  present  in  the  juice,  even  after  a  large  quantity  of  the  crystalliza- 
ble sugar  has  been  destroyed  by  inversion. 

lie  adds:7 

There  is  no  doubt  but  that  when  the  present  industry  shall  have  secured  the  em- 
ployment of  the  capital  and  scientific  ability  which  has  developed  tho  beet-sugar  in- 
dustry, even  these  results,  which  may  appear  extravagant  to  many,  will  be  assured. 

EXPERIMENTS    AT    TIIE    ILLINOIS    INDUSTRIAL    UNIVERSITY,    CHAM 

PAIGN,   IN   1880. 

These  experiments  were  all  directed  by  Professors  Weber  and  Sco- 
vell.  They  undertook  a  series  of  experiments  to  determine  the  possi- 
bilities of  manufacturing  sugar  from  sorghum.8  Twelve  experiments 
with  amber  and  orange  cane  were  made  from  September  17  to  Octo- 
ber 2, 

In  experiment  No.  5  the  sugar  obtained,  calculated  to  1  acre, amounted 
to  710.G7  pounds. 

'Agricultural  Report,  1878,  pp.  'JSetseq. 

(>,>.  oft.,  i».  99. 

Agricultural  Report,  i^~9,  p.  53. 
•Qp.  off.,  p.  .'.'">. 
''Op.  cit.,  p.  01. 
°Op.  cit.,  p.  CO. 

(>i>.  <it.,  p.  ;,<;. 
•Transactiona  Department  of  Agriculture,  Illinois,  1880,  i»i».  428  rf,  acq. 


91 

Quantitative  determinations  were  not  made  in  the  other  experiments. 
As  a  result  of  their  work  the  experimenters  were  led  to  make  the  fol- 
lowing statement  :l 

From  the  results  above  given  it  appears  that  crystallized  sugar  cau  be  obtained 
from  sorghum  of  as  good  a  quality  as  that  of  the  ordinary  brown  sugars  found  in  the 
market.  A  portion  of  this  brown  sugar  was  re-dissolved  and  the  solution  passed 
through  boneblack.  On  evaporation  it  yielded  a  white  sugar,  which  had  no  trace  of 
sorghum  taste  or  smell. 

From  the  proximate  analysis  of  the  cane,  it  appears  that  1  acre  of  sorghum  pro- 
duces over  2,500  pounds  of  cane  sugar.  Of  this  amount  we  obtained  710  pounds  in 
the  form  of  good  brown  sugar,  and  265  pounds  in  the  molasses  drained  from  the  sugar. 
Hence  G2  per  cent,  of  the  total  amount  of  sugar  was  lost  during  the  process  of  manu- 
facture. This  shows  that  the  method  of  manufacture  in  general  use  is  very  im- 
perfect. 

The  710  pounds  of  sugar  at  8  cents  per  pound  would  bring  §50.80.  The  molasses  is 
worth  25  cents  a  gallon,  or  the  products  of  an  acre  of  sorghum  would  bring  .$75.55. 
There  is  no  doubt  that,  with  proper  care  and  apparatus,  the  above  yield  can  be 
doubled. 

From  our  experiments,  it  seems  that  about  one-half  of  the  sugar  remains  iu  the  ba- 
gasse. This  could,  no  doubt,  in  part  be  recovered  by  the  process  of  percolation,  as 
is  sometimes  done  in  the  manufacture  of  beet-root  sugar.  Experiments  will  be 
made  this  coming  season  to  determine  the  feasibility  of  recovering  this  great  loss  of 
sugar. 

In  1880  Mr.  H.  A.  Hughes  manufactured  some  sirup  from  early  amber 
cane  near  Cape  May,  N.  J.  This  sirup  was  sent  to  a  Philadelphia  re- 
finery and  manufactured  into  sugar.2 

EXPERIMENTS  AT  TIIE  AGRICULTURAL  STATION  IN  WISCONSIN  IN  1881. 

These  experiments  were  conducted  by  Profs.  W.  A.  Henry  and  M. 
Swenson.3  Two  plots  each  of  two-thirteenths  acre  area  furnished  the 
canes  for  experiments.  On  plot  A  there  was  made  142  pounds  of  sugar. 
On  plot  13  there  was  made  109 J  pounds  sugar. 

Calculated  for  an  acre,  plot  A  would  make  923  pounds,  and  plot  B 
would  make  997.J  pounds. 

In  regard  to  the  character  of  the  season.  Professor  Henry4  says : 

I  would  state  upon  the  whole  that  the  season  has  not  hcen  a  very  favorable  one 
*  *  #  Had  sugar  heen  the  ohject  with  our  manufacturers  this  season,  it  would  have 
been  a  very  unfavorable  one. 

Weber  and  Scovell5  continued  their  work  and  made  some  very  in- 
structive experiments  in  the  manufacture  of  sugar. 

Experiment  1  (August  22):6 

Weight  of  cane  crushed pounds..   1,500.  00 

Weight  of  juico  obtained do C87. 50 

lVr  cent,  of  juice 43.40 

1  Op.  c*/.,  pp.  4131-2. 

5  Fifth  Ann.  Report  X.  J.  Agricultural  Experiment  Station,  p.  96. 

'Report  National  Academy  Sciences  on  Sorghum,  p.  85. 

*  Op.  cit.,  p.  92. 

transactions  Dept  of  Agriculture,  111.,  1881,  pp.  ."•00  ct  scq. 

« Op.  cit.,  pp.  r.oo,  601. 


92 

The  juice  was  carefully  neutralized  with  milk  of  liuie  and  brought  to  the  boiling 
point  iu  the  defecating  pan.  A  very  heavy  green  scum  rose,  and  this  being  removed, 
the  juice  wassecn  to  be  full  of  a  green,  light  nocculeut  precipitate,  which  did  not  sub- 
sequently rise  to  the  top  in  any  considerable  quantity.  The  juice  was  now  drawn  off 
into  a  tub,  where  it  was  allowed  to  repose  twelve  hours.  At  the  end  of  this  time 
only  about  one-half  of  the  juice  could  be  drawn  off  clear,  the  precipitate  being  still 
suspended  in  the  remainder.  It  was  found  impossible  to  filter  this  portion,  and  it 
was,  therefore,  thrown  away.  The  clearjuice,  after  being  passed  through  bone-black, 
was  evaporated  in  a  copper  fiuishing  pan  to  the  crystallizing  point.  The  melada  had 
a  very  unpleasant,  saltish  taste,  owing  to  the  presence  of  salts  of  ammonia.  The 
sugar  crystallized  very  readily,  and  although  it  looked  well,  it  still  retained  some- 
what of  this  saltish  taste  after  being  separated  from  the  molasses. 

Experiment  2  (August  25) : 

Yield  sugar  per  acre pounds..  60>.  ? 

Yield  sugar  per  ton do 77.  v? 

Experiment  3 : 

Weight  of  cane pounds..   1,440 

Weight  of  melada  obtained  do 145.8 

Weight  of  sugar  not  given. 

Experiment  4 : 

Weight  cane pounds..    1,161 

Weight  melada  from  juice do 05.5 

Weight  sugar  from  juice do 41.  5 

The  authors  add  the  following  observations:  J 

(1)  Seed  should  be  planted  as  early  as  possible. 

(2)  The  proper  time  to  begin  cutting  the  cane  for  making  sugar  is  when  the  seed  is 
in  the  hardening  dough. 

(3)  The  cane  should  be  worked  up  as  soon  as  possible  after  cutting.  Cane  which 
cut  in  the  afternoon  or  evening  may  safely  be  worked  up  the  following  morning. 

(4)  The  manufacture  of  sugar  can  be  conducted  properly  only  with  improved  ap- 
paratus, and  on  a  scale  which  would  justify  the  erection  of  steam  sugar-works,  with 
vacuum  pans,  steam  defecators  and  evaporators,  and  the  employment  of  a  competent 
chemist  to  superintend  the  business.  The  same  is  true  for  the  manufacture  of  glu- 
cose from  the  seed.  Our  experiments  were  made  with  the  ordinary  apparatus  used  in 
manufacturing  sorghum  sirup,  and  any  person  who  desired  to  work  on  a  small  scale 
could  use  the  methods  with  good  results,  provided  he  had  acquired  the  accessary  skill 
in  neutralizing  and  defecating  the  juice  and  in  tin;  treatment  of  the  bone-black  filters. 
The  manufacture  ofglucoseon  asmallscale  is  entirely  out  of  the  question.  Five  hun- 
dred to  a  thousand  acres  ©f  sorghum  would  be  sufficient  to  justify  the  erection  of 
steam  sugar-works,  and  this  amount  could  easily  be  raised  in  almost  any  community 
within  a  radius  of  1  or  2  miles  from  the  work-.' 

Fourteen  quantitative  experiments  were  made  by  the  Department  of 

Agriculture  in  1 SS2  in  the  production  of  sugar.     These  experiments  are 
described  by  Dr.  Collier  as  follows:  ■ 

In  the  fourteen  experiments  which  were  made,  quantitatively,  eleven  of  the  sirup:! 
were  a  solid  massof  erj  stals;  in  twoof  them  two-thirds  of  the  sirups  were  mush  sugar, 
and  in  the  remaining  sample  the  strap  contained  a  few  crystals  of  sugar,  bnt the 
analysis  showed  that  this  one  had  not  been  evaporated  quite  to  the  point  of  good 
crystallization. 

1  Op.  cit.  502,  503. 

'Investigations  of  Sorghum,  Special  Report,  1883,  pp.  M  vl  «"/. 


93 


EXPERIMENTS    FOR    WHICH   AN    AWARD    OF   $1,200  WAS    MADE 
BY  THE  COMMISSIONER  OF  AGRICULTURE. 

(1)  CHAMPAIGN,  ILL. 

The  Champaign  Sugar  and  Glucose  Manufacturing  Coinpauy  in  1882 
submitted  a  report  of  its  operations  to  the  Commissioner  of  Agricult- 
ure, of  which  the  following  is  a  summary  :  l 

Number  tons  cane  worked  for  sugar 1, 723. 99 

Number  acres  cane 185. 8 

Pounds  sugar  manufactured 86, 603. 00 

Pounds  sugar  per  ton 50.  3 

Pounds  sugar  per  acre 465.  5 

A  part  of  the  crop  was  so  poor  in  sucrose  that  it  was  worked  for  mo- 
lasses only.  The  climatic  conditions  attending  the  experiments  are  de- 
scribed as  follows : 2 

The  weather  during  this  year,  so  far  as  planting,  cultivating,  maturing  the  crop, 
and  the  development  of  cane  sugar  in  sorghum  in  this  section  of  the  country  has 
been  the  most  unfavorable  of  any  year  within  our  knowledge,  and  we  are  informed 
by  those  who  have  grown  sorghum  and  broom-corn  that  this  year  has  been  the  most 
unfavorable  season  for  upwards  of  twenty  years  in  this  section  for  those  crops. 

Further  difficulties  in  manufacture  are  also  described.3 

The  company  were  unfortunate  in  not  having  a  crystallizing-room,  capable  of  being 
heated  to  the  proper  temperature  for  the  best  results  in  crystallization,  and  the  subse- 
quent purging  of  the  sugar.  The  room  was  so  cold  that  the  melada  was  too  stiff  to 
arrange  itself  evenly  in  the  centrifugal  without  the  addition  of  warm  water  in  the 
mixer,  and  even  then  it  was  often  found  impossible  to  purge  without  washing  with 
warm  water.  Wo  took  the  trouble  to  make  experiments  to  see  how  much  or  what  pro- 
portion of  sugar  was  being  washed  down  with  and  iutotho  molasses  by  reason  of  the 
cold.  It  was  done  by  takiug  a  certain  weight  of  melada,  120  pounds,  which  was  care- 
fully wanned  and  then  swung  out.  The  yield  was  56  pounds  of  dry  sugar.  The 
same  amount  of  melada  from  the  same  car  was  swung  in  the  usual  way,  aud  the  yield 
was  38  pounds  of  dry  sugar,  or  a  loss  of  18  pounds  of  sugar  in  a  purge,  by  reason  of 
the  cold.  We  had  but  a  few  days  of  favorable  weather,  and  the  results  from  it  com- 
pared favorably  with  the  above  experiment. 

Upon  that  basis  wo  find  that  there  was  uselessly  washed  away  27,799  pounds  of 
sugar.  Add  sugar  obtained,  86,603,  and,  with  a  suitable  crystallizing-room  kept  at  a 
temperature  of  from  98°  to  100°,  the  sugar  product  would  have  amounted  to  114,402 
pounds.  This  would  have  made  the  yield  per  ton  of  66.3  pounds  ;  yield  per  acre,  615.7 
pounds. 

This  sugar  was  actually  made,  and  was  lost  in  separation  by  reason  only  of  the  fact 
that  it  could  not  be  kept  at  the  proper  temperature.  This  difficulty  can  be  overcome 
by  having  a  crystallizing-room  and  having  it  kept  properly  heated. 

In  the  next  place  sorghum  requires  hot  summer  weather  for  its  proper  development. 
As  shown  in  our  report,  the  average  temperature  during  the  pat  t  of  the  past  D 
fell  far  below  the  usual  summer  temporal  ure  in  this  section,  and  was  an  average  of6° 
below  the  average  of  | he  same  months  of  last  year. 

1  Enrnuragement  to  sorghum,  etc  .  UK33,  p.  13. 

-  Op,  <it.,  p.  11. 
3  Op.  cit.,  pp.  17.  L8. 


94 


(2)  REPORT   OF  PROFESSOR  SWENSON. 

Magnus  Swensou1  reports  three  experiments  : 


Three  and  three-fifths  acres  gave 

Twoacies  gave 

One  and  one-fourth  acres  gave — 


Stripped  cane, 


Pounds. 
75,  262 
28, 974 
17, 112 


Sugar. 


Pound  8. 
2,110.5 
1,008 
594 


Yield  per  ton. 


rounds. 

56.3 
70 


Owing  to  the  very  backward  season  the  growth  of  the  cane  was  exceedingly  slow.2 

In  respect  of  the  purity  of  the  juice  Professor  Swenson  says : 3 

I  do  not  believe  that  the  average  juice  from  the  sorghum  cane  is  of  sufficient  purity 
to  allow  of  its  being  boiled  to  grain  in  the  vacuum  pan.  I  obtained  a  much  coarser 
sugar  by  allowing  the  crystallization  to  take  place  in  small  tanks,  and  it  was  conse- 
quently much  more  easily  separated. 

Compare  this  with  the  statement  of  Professor  Weber : 4 

During  our  season's  work  in  running  the  vacuum  pan  for  sugar  we  did  not  fail  at 
any  timo  to  produce  crystals  therein  of  proper  quantity  and  desirable  size. 

(3)   REPORT   OF  MR.   PAUL    STECK,   OF    SAN    FRANCISCO,   CAL.5 

Four  hundred  acres  of  cane  were  planted.  Mr.  Steck  puts  his  daily 
expenses,  aside  from  the  cost  of  cane,  at  $235.50.  His  premium  of 
$1,200  therefore  only  paid  his  running  expenses  for  a  little  over  five 
days. 

I  give  below  that  part  of  his  report  where  we  might  expect  to  find  a 
statement  of  the  quantity  of  sugar  made.6 

1  manufactured  from  COO  to  650  gallons  of  sirup  per  day;  average  market  price  50 
cents  per  gallon.  The  reason  why  I  could  not  manufacture  sugar  in  quantity  was  on 
account  of  the  juice  not  crystallizing  in  the  vacuum  pan,  as  cane  sugar  should  do,  so 
I  was  compelled  to  let  the  sirup  run  into  tanks  for  crystallization.  The  sirup  which  I 
manufactured  from  this  sorghum  was  superior  to  any  in  the  market,  both  in  color  and 
teste.  Tho  time  required  in  making  tho  alterations  necessary  and  the  putting  in  of 
large  tanks,  and  other  changes  which  I  would  have  to  make,  was  too  short,  so  I  con- 
\  erted  the  crop  intosirup,  as  abovo  stated.  Tho  sorghum  sirup  has  a  very  slow  crys- 
tallization, and  the  room  in  which  it  is  kept  should  have  a  temperature  of  not  less 
than  105°.  It  is  a  very  important  point  in  manufacturing  sugar  from  sorghum 
not  to  bring  the  juice  to  boiliug-point,  as  it  checks  tho  crystallization;  therefore  it 
should  always  be  evaporated  in  vacuum  pans  (what  wo  call  singlo,  double,  and  t  ri[>lo 
effect),  and  also  the  cano  brought  to  the  mill  should  bo  manufactured  into  sugar  or 
sirup  within  twelve  to  fifteen  hours,  as  the  longer  it  is  exposed  to  air  the  more  sucrose 
will  turn  to  glucose.  Thero  should  not  bo  more  cane  cut  in  the  field  than  can  be 
worked  at  the  mill  each  daw 


Op,  <  it.}  pp.  L9 

-  Op,   r//.,    p    20. 


Op,  <it.,  p.  23. 
*  Op,  <</..  p.  15. 


•  <>j>.  <it.,  ]>[).  2;{  et  acq. 
1  Op.  cii.,  p.  25. 


95 

In  the  summary  of  his  report,  however,  we  have  the  following  curi- 
ous information  :  l 

Number  of  acres  of  sorghum  brought  to  the  mill 300 

X amber  of  tous  of  cane  manufactured 3, 600 

The  yield  of  sorghum  per  acre tons . .  15 

The  amount  of  sugar  manufactured  (about) tons..  5 

The  amount  yielded  per  ton  of  cane  (about).,  .pounds..  80  to  90 

Mr.  Steck,  it  seems,  had  equal  difficulty  in  making  sugar  and  comput- 
ing yield  per  ton.  Had  heavy  floods  and  frosts  not  occurred,  and  the 
factory  had  been  large  enough,  Mr.  Steck  states  that  he  would  have 
made  288,000  pounds.2  The  loss  of  278,000  pounds  is  therefore  to  be  at- 
tributed to  the  unfriendliness  of  nature. 

Mr.  Steck  closes  his  report  with  a  promise  which  he  has  never  per- 
formed, viz : 

My  intention  next  year  is  to  manufacture  sugar  from  sorghum,  knowing  the  exact 
process  necessary  to  its  manufacture. 


(4)  REPORT   OF  NELSON  MAETBY,    GENEVA,  OHIO. 


Mr.  Maltby  makes  the  following  statement  of  his  work : 4 

I  worked  up  cane  from  17£  acres;  the  weight  of  the  caue  was  167  tons  and  824 
pounds,  yielding  a  little  over  9^  tons  per  acre.  I  made  1,406  gallons  sirup  not  to  be 
granulated.  I  made  1,095  gallons  of  sirup  for  sugar,  weighing  12  pounds  per  gallon, 
all  of  which  grained  well.  I  made  4,380  pounds  good  dry  sugar  from  the  same.  From 
some  cane  I  made  7%2  pounds  sugar  and  112  pounds  sirup  per  ton.  The  average  was 
62  pounds  sugar  and  124  pounds  sirup  per  ton. 


(5)  REPORT   OF  DRUMMOND   BROS.,   WARRENSBURGH,  MO. 


The  number  of  tons  of  caue  manufactured  was  243,  an  average  of  9J 
tons  per  acre.     The  greater  part  of  this  product  did  not  crystallize. 

The  sugar  obtained  was  wholly  from  the  Early  Amber  variety,  and 
amounted  to  1,4G4  pounds,  being  an  average  of  50  pounds  per  ton. 
Calculated  on  the  whole  quantity  of  cane,  however,  it  is  not  quite  7 
pounds  per  ton. 

Drummond  Bros,  make  no  complaint  of  the  unfavorableness  of  the 
season. 

(C)  REPORT  OF  A.  J.  DECKER,  OF  FOND  DU  LAC,  WIS.6 

Mr,  Decker,  in  competing  for  the  prize  of  $1,200  for  sorghum-sugar 
making,  naively  remarks  in  his  summary  of  operations  ■ 

Gallons. 

Full  amount  of  sirup  made  this  year :?,  GOO 

Vinegar 800 

Sugar  (not  yet  swung  out).7 

'  Op.  cit.,  p,  25.  *Op.  tit.,  p.  27.  •  Op.  cit.,  pp.  31  it  aeq. 

2  Op.  cit.,  p.  2G.  *Op.  cit.,  pp.  23etacq.  'Op.  cit..  p 

3  Op.  tit.,  pp.  26  ct  seq. 


96 

The  date  of  Mr.  Decker's  report  is  not  given.     He  says,  however  : l 
On  September  22  and  83  there  was  ■  sharp  frost.     The  caue  was  mo3tly  in  blossom 
ami  the  juice  tested  5°  B.    Three  months  later  it  tested  less  than  6°  B.    There  is,  there- 
fore, internal  evidence  that  the  report  was  written  later  than  December  23. 

This  failure  to  separate  the  sugar  may  have  been  due  to  the  small 
capacity  of  the  centrifugal,  which2  "was  small,  24  inches  in  diameter,  6 
inches  deep,  with  a  capacity  of  500  pounds  per  day." 

In  respect  of  the  weather  we  learn  :3 

The  season  has  been  the  most  unfavorable  of  any  known  in  this  locality  since  the 
introduction  of  this  crop. 

Mr.  Decker  closes  with  a  number  of  observations  to  which  the  pre- 
ceding part  of  his  report  gives  great  emphasis  :4 

There  are  a  number  of  points  requisite  to  the  development  of  sugar  from  sorghum 
as  wefl  as  the  process  of  manufacturing.  First,  is  ripe  cane;  second,  proper  appli- 
ances; third,  "the  know  how."  The  long-continued  high  degree  of  heat  required  in 
open-pan  boiling  destroys  nearly  all  the  sugar  long  before  the  required  density  >s 
reached,  and  under  the  most  favorable  circumstances  not  more  than  one  pound  of 
sugar  to  the  gallon  can  bo  expected  fro/n  open-pan  work,  and  that  does  not  deserve  to 
be  called  sugar  making  yet.  I  believe  with  the  use  of  the  vacuum  pan  and  the  skill 
to  run  it,  sngar  in  the  West  is  as  certain  as  making  flour  from  wheat. 

(7)  REPORT    OF   WILLIAM   FRAZIER,  ESOFEA,  VERNON  COUNTY,  WIS.5 

The  weight  of  caue  manufactured  by  Mr.  Frazier  was  nearly  259  tons, 
grown  on  a  little  more  than  4L  acres.  Mr.  Frazier's  success  in  sugar 
making  can  not  be  properly  appreciated  save  in  his  own  words  : 6 

My  report  on  this  subject  can  not  be  what  I  would  like.  I  am  able,  however,  to  send 
you  what  I  believe  to  bo  a  pretty  fair  sample  of  crude  sugar  ;  it  was  dried  from  sirup 
made  of  Mr.  Brigg's  cano,  dried  by  draining  tho  sirup  through  a  coarso  cloth.  Allow 
mo  to  state  here  that  my  object  has  been  sirup,  with  a  view  of  making  sugar  in  the 
near  future.  The  most  of  my  sirup  was  thoroughly  grained  one  week  aftor  it  was 
made.  Had  it  granulato  in  the  coolers  frequently.  My  coolers  are  8  inches  deep  and 
hold  40  gallons  each. 

On  two  occasions  there  was  about  an  inch  in  the  bottom  of  tho  second  cooler  so 
completely  grained  that  it  would  not  run  out,  although  tho  melada  was  quite  warm. 
I  now  have  about  2,500  pounds  of  sugar  in  tho  bottom  of  sirup  tanks,  which  I  intend 
to  throw  out  in  tin-  spring. 

Mr.  Frazier  also  funis  fault  with  the  weather:7 

But  tho  expected  spring  rains  failed  to  come.  It  continued  very  dry  until  the 34th 
day  of. June,  when  nearly  1  inches  of  rain  fell  in  one  day,  many  heavy  rains  follow- 
ing, making  it  impossible  to  work  our  crops  until  the  seasOD  was  far  advanced.  I  re- 
piantcd  my  cane  twice,  hut  owing  to  the  cold,  dry  spring  and  to  the  ravages  of  tho 
grub  worm,  failed  to  get  half  a  stand  on  the  19  acre  piece. 

(8)  REPORT  <>F  THE  JEFFERSON  BUGAB  company  JEFFERSON,  OHIO. 

\\v  manufactured  33,250  pounds  of  melada  from  1 1 1 « -  190  tons  of  cam  worked.     We 

have  not  separated  all  of  it  in  the  centrifugal  as  yei  ;  bnl  it  is  running  about  1  pounds 
illon  (or  for  every  12  of  melada),  from  the  firs!  granulation.    Wb  expect  on  re- 

»Op.  elf. , pp.  31  and  3fe       3  Op.  cit.t  p.  31.       •  Op.  ciUt  pp.  36  et  atf.       'Op.  cit.,  p.  41. 
*Op.  tit.,?.  35.  *Op.  0tt.,p.  30.         •  Op.  cit.,]}.  38.  8  Op.  cit.,  p.  4G. 


97 

boiling  twice  to  raise  the  figures  to  7  pounds.  Last  year  we  got  6  pounds  in  every  12, 
with  two  boilings,  from  some  of  the  best  cane.  If  we  do  not  succeed  in  getting  more 
than  6  pounds  per  gallon,  we  will  have  from  the  above  figures  lb",625  pounds  sugar. 
This  would  be  nearly  90  pounds  sugar  per  ton  of  cane,  and  about  700  pounds  per  acre 
of  land.  We  feel  assured  of  this  much  from  the  yield  of  that  already  separated  ;  but 
we  hope  to  obtain  an  average  of  7  pounds  per  gallon  from  all  of  the  cane  worked  for 
sugar  during  the  present  season.  If  cane  had  fully  matured  we  should  not  want  to 
stop  with  less  than  8  pounds  per  gallon. 

The  weather,  as  usual,  was  bad : 

The  last  two  seasons  have  been  the  most  disheartening  ones  for  developing  this  new 
industry  that  our  country  has  seen  for  years.1 

(9)  REPORT   OF   THE  OAK  HILL  REFINING  COMPANY,  EDWARDSVILLE, 

ILL.2 

The  report  says : 3 

And  now  we  must  state  plainly  that  we  have  not  manufactured  sugar  on  a  business 
scale  this  season.  That  is,  wo  have  simply  made  a  small  quantity  as  samples  of  our 
work,  and  contented  ourselves  with  turning  out  the  greater  part  of  our  products  as 
sirup.     We  did  this  for  several  reasons. 

In  the  first  place,  during  the  two  previous  years  the  juice,  at  its  best  (and  seldom 
so),  had  been  on  the  ragged  edge  ;  that  is,  scarcely  enough  sugar  to  crystallize  under 
the  most  favorable  circumstances.  In  1830-'81  the  best  "quotient  of  purity  "  (i.  e., 
polarization  divided  by  solid  contents)  was  about  equal  to  the  lowest  boilings  in  a 
sugar  refinery,  where  a  vacuum  pan  is  needed,  and  three  weeks'  storage  in  a  "hot 
room  "  to  insure  a  yield  of  25  per  cent,  in  sugar,  and  afterwards  a  bone-black  filtration 
to  give  the  sirup  a  salablo  color.  In  1881-82  the  cane,  if  anything,  was  poorer;  we 
had  line-looking  ripe  cane,  the  stalks  of  which  were  sticky  with  exuded  juice;  it  had 
been  in  the  society  of  the  chinch-bug,  and  the  juice  polarized  from  1  to  2  per  cent. 
This  year  the  chinch-bug  had  been  hard  at  work  improving  the  time  as  far  as  possi- 
ble, and  we  knew  what  to  expect. 

As  to  the  weather,  etc.,  the  report  says  : 4 

The  past  three  years  the  chinch-bugs  have  been  very  troublesome  in  this  section. 
They  have  done  great  damage  to  the  cane  crop,  especially  severe  in  dry  seasons,  as 
the  past  three  have  been. 

(10)   REPORT   OF   C.   BOZARTH,  CEDAR  FALLS,   IOWA.5 

Mr.  Bozarth  introduces  his  report  as  follows:6 

I  want  to  preface  by  stating  that  I  havo  been  in  the  business  twenty-lour  years, 
and  this  has  been  fche  worst  year  for  cane  that  we  havo  had  for  sixteen  years.  We 
had  a  very  eohl,  wet,  backward  spring.  The  cane  was  four  weeks  coming  up,  after 
which  there  were  a  number  of  hard  frosts,  the  weather  continuing  cold  and  wet  up  to 
July,  which  so  delayed  the  crop  that  it  was  not  much  past  tho  bloom  when  frost  came 
again  on  the  22d  of  September,  leaving  the  eane  poor  in  sweetness  and  weight,  both 
marking  only  0°  to  8°  Baum<5  and  averaging  not  more  than  7°.  I  have  made  but  lit- 
tle sugar  this  season,  hardly  enough  to  pay  for  running  through  tho  centrifugal  ma- 
chine, and  inasmuch  as  the  sirup  is  a  good  price  I  havo  not  thought  best  to  put  it 
through  for  the  little  that  is  in  it,  although  there  is  a  considerable  granulation 

through  all  my  sirup,  fully  as  much  this  year  as  I  OOuld  expect,  and  more,  consider- 
ing the  quality  of  cane.    Last  year  I  had  5,000  pounds  thai  sold  in  the  market  for 

bO\).  cit.,  pp.  ,77  cts,,(. 
8  Op.  cit.,  p,  .".7. 


i  Op.  cit.,  p.  13. 

sOp.  cit.,  p.  51, 

"Op.  cit.,  pp.47  eftSg, 

*  Op.  cit.,  pp.  r>r> 

2357G     Bull  18 

7 

98 


8£  cents  per  pound,  and  the  year  before  15,000  pounds  that  sold  for8  cents  per  pound. 
I  raised  this  year  on  my  own  farm  85  acres,  which  was  all  worked  without  stripping. 

The  introduction  contains  all  there  is  iu  this  report  concerning  the 
production  of  sugar. 

The  results  of  the  experiments  just  abstracted  are  appropriately  pre- 
ceded  by  a  summary  made  by  the  Commissioner  of  Agriculture  of  the 
experiments  which  had  been  made  up  to  that  time  by  the  Department 
of  Agriculture  in  the  production  of  sugar  from  sorghum.     He  says  :l 

On  assuming  the  duties  of  my  office  in  1881  I  found  135  acres  of  sorghum,  contain- 
ing fifty-two  varieties,  which  had  been  planted  in  Washington  for  the  use  of  the  De- 
partment. On 
and  sugar,  I  eng 
recommended  fo 


being  informed  that  the  time  had  arrived  for  manufacturing  sirup 
aged  the  services  of  an  expert  in  sugar-making  who  had  been  highly 
C  the  position  of  superintendent,  and  operations  were  commenced  ou 


September  26  at  the  mill  erected  by  my  predecessor  on  the  grounds.  These  opera- 
tions were  continued  with  slight  interruptions  until  the  latter  part  of  Ootober,  at 
which  time  the  supply  of  cane  became  exhausted.  Forty-two  acres  of  the  crop  were 
overtaken  by  frosi  before  being  sufficiently  ripe  for  use,  ami  this  portion  of  the  crop 
was  80  badly  damaged  as  to  be  unlit  for  manufacture.  The  yield  of  cane  per  acre  on 
the  93  acres  gathered  was  2\  tons;  the  number  of  gallons  of  sirup  obtained  was 
2,977,  and  the  number  of  pounds  of  sugar  was  lo.">.  The  expense  of  raising  the  cane  was 
$6,589.  15,  and  the  expense  of  converting  the  cane  into  sirup  and  sugar  was  $1,667.69 — 
an  aggregate  of  $8,557.04. 

To  recapitulate  the  results  of  the  ten  experiments  I  give  the  follow- 
ing table:  


Sugar  made. 

rounds. 

So.  1 

86,  603 
3,718.5 

10,  000 

1,461 
0,000 

0,(100 

10,  000 
0,000 

No.  2 

No.  3  (about) 

No.  4 

No.  5 

No.  0 

No.  7  

No.  8  (estimated) 

No.  9  

No.  10  ("a  little") 

116,165.5 

Amount  of  premium  given,  $12,000.    Amount  per  pound  (nearly),  10.3  oeata. 


BY  THK  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE. 


PRACTICAL. 

Attempts  were  made  in  L88J  by  the  Department  of  Agriculture  to 
manufacture  Bugar  at  Washington.  Cane  from 93.5  acres  was  crushed. 
Prom  the  official  report   it  docs  not  appear  that  any  success  attended 

these  efforts. 

The  causes  of  failure  arc  thus  set  forth  by  Dr.  CoNier  :2 

Briefly  stated,  the  serera]  ohief  soarees  of  failure  are  ai  follows  : 
(1)  The  immaturity  of  the  sorghum  a(  the  period  when  it  is  oat  and  worked.    This 
m;i>  be  dneto  late  planting,  as  in  oar  experience  the  past  season,  or  to  the  selection 

<>r.  rii..  ]».  :;. 

uriiiiurul  Report,  1881  '',  pp.509  eietf. 


99 

of  a  variety  which  requires  mure  time  for  its  complete  maturity  than  the  season  in 
any  given  latitude  may  give.  The  importance,  then,  of  selecting  only  such  varieties 
as  will  ma;ure  sufficiently  long  before  frosts,  so  as  to  give  a  reasonable  time  to  work 
up  the  crop,  can  not  be  overestimated. 

(2)  Another  frequent  cause  of  failure  is  due  to  allowing  the  sorghum  to  remain 
some  time  after  being  cut  up  before  it  is  worked  at  the  mill.  That  such  a  course  may 
be  pursued  in  certain  seasons  and  in  certain  localities  without  producing  an  unfavor- 
able result  has  been  established  beyond  much  doubt,  but  the  climatic  conditions  which 
render  such  a  procedure  possible  are  imperfectly  understood  at  the  present,  and  re- 
peated experiments  have  demonstrated  that  after  being  cut  up  the  juices  are  subject 
to  chemical  changes  which  speedily  result  in  the  destruction  of  the  crystallizable 
sugar.  For  the  present,  then,  the  only  safe  course  to  pursue  is  to  work  up  the  cane 
within  at  most  twenty-four  hours  after  it  is  cut  up. 

(3)  A  third  cause  of  failure  exists  in  an  imperfect  method  of  defecation  of  the  juice. 
The  object  of  defecation  and  the  method  by  which  it  is  accomplished  should  bo  care- 
fully studied  aud  as  thoroughly  understood  by  the  sugar-boiler  as  is  possible,  for,  al- 
though somewhat  complex  in  its  details,  the  general  principles  which  underlie  this 
important  step  are  few  and  easily  comprehended. 

The  report  of  the  engineer  in  charge  of  the  work,  Mr.  J.  II.  Harvey, 
gives  the  following  summary  :l 

Cane  crushed pounds..  458,444 

Juice  obtained gallons..  26,794 

Sirup  obtained do 2, 977 

Sugar  made pounds..  105 

Mr.  Peter  Lynch,  sugar  expert,  makes  the  following  statement  con- 
cerning the  work:2 

Peter  Lynch,  who  had  the  general  management  of  the  sorghum  business,  super- 
intending its  manufacture  into  juice,  sirup,  and  sugar,  says  that  ho  has  had  fifteen 
years'  experience  as  a  sugar-boiler  with  Cuban  molasses,  cane  sugar,  grape  sugar,  etc. ; 
that  of  the  20G£  gallons  of  light  sirup  obtained  October  5  and  C,  1881,  there  were  from 
175  to  200  pounds  of  sugar  obtained — nearly  1  pound  per  gallon.  It  was  good  sugar, 
worth  8  to  9  cents  a  pound,  wholesale ;  would  polarize  between  9G  and  98.  No  special 
means  were  used  to  obtain  this  result.  It  was  boiled  to  a  proof  that  would  granulate. 
The  juice  from  which  this  was  made  contained  on  an  average  from  2.8  to  3£  per  cent. 
of  glucose  and  from  11  to  13$  per  cent,  of  cane  sugar. 

The  mill  worked  excellently,  aud  every  particle  of  juice  possible  was  extracted,  ll.nl 
thi,^  same  quality  prevailed  with  all  the  season's  juice,  the  same  average  quality  of 
sugar  would  probably  have  been  obtained  every  day. 

The  only  canes  really  worth  anything  were  those  worked  that  day.  On  other  days 
the"  proportion  of  glucose  was  greater,  owing  to  bad  cane.  Do  not  think  the  qoality 
of. ^iiiip  made  tin-  year  as  fair  an  average  as  might  bo  expected  with  fair  soil,  lair  cli- 
mate, etc.     Good  soil  ought  to  raise  from  1G  to  18  tons  of  stripped  stalks. 

For  the  results  of  tin-  season's  work  no  blame  can  be  attached  to  the  machinery  or 
anything  else.  The  only  cause  for  failure  to  make  sugar  was  that  the  cane  was  not 
sufficiently  ripe. 

In  1883  57^,350  pounds  of  sorghum  cane  were  worked  for  sugar  by  the 
Departmental  Washington.    The  machinery  employed  was  that  used 

by  Dr.  Collier  in  the  work  of  1881. 

The  quantity  of  sugar  made  was  7,100  pounds,  or  1.24  per  cent,  of  the 
cane  worked,  or  24.8  pounds  per.  ton.3 

1  Op.  ci  t . . ,  i> .  682 . 
9  Op.  cit.,  p.  523. 
'Department  of  Agriculture,  Division  of  Chemistry,  Bulletin  No.  3,  p.  43. 


100 

Forty-two  tons  of  clean  cane  grown  in  Indiana  were  also  worked  for 
sugar.  The  quantity  made  was  2,SG0  pounds,  or  3.39  per  cent.,  equal 
to  G7.S  pounds  per  ton.1 

Further  attempts  were  made  by  the  Department  in  Ottawa,  Kans.,  in 
1885  to  manufacture  sugar  from  sorghum.  The  process  of  diffusion  was 
employed.  Expensive  machinery  was  provided  and  one  satisfactory 
trial  was  made.  Unfortunately  the  actual  number  of  tons  of  cane  used 
could  only  be  estimated.  The  estimate  was  based  on  the  weight  of 
masse  cuite  obtained,  and  is  without  doubt  very  nearly  correct.  The 
quantity  of  sugar  made  was  1,420  pounds,  estimated  at  9f>  pounds  per 
ton.2    A  subsequent  trial  failed  to  produce  any  sugar.3 

Further  attempts  were  made  by  the  Department  in  1880  to  manu- 
facture sugar  from  sorghum  at  Fort  Scott,  Kans.  The  diffusion  pro- 
cess was  employed.  The  average  weight  of  masse  cuite  was  12  per  cent, 
of  the  weight  of  the  cane  used.4  The  weight  of  cane  worked  for  su- 
gar was  2,322  tons.5  The  weight  of  sugar  made  was  50,000  pounds.6 
Weight  sugar  per  ton,  21. G  pounds. 

MANUFACTURING  TRIALS  WITHOUT  THE  DEPARTMENT. 

I  could  not  give  hero  all  the  incidental  attempts  at  making  sugar 
which  have  been  made  in  connection  with  the  manufacture  of  molasses 
from  the  time  of  the  introduction  of  the  sorghum  plant  into  this  country 
to  the  present  time.  I  will  confine  myself  to  a  brief  review  of  the  at- 
tempts which  have  been  made  to  produce  sugar. 

CRYSTAL  LAKE,  NEAR  CHICAGO. 

I  believe  the  first  attempt  to  make  sugar  from  sorghum  on  a  large 
scale  in  this  country  was  at  Crystal  Lake,  near  Chicago.  The  factory 
was  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  J.  B.  Thorns.  According  to  the  report  of 
the  National  Academy  of  Sciences  on  sorghum — 7 

In  1879,  with  a  "  miserable  mill,"  he  obtained  juiee of  8£°  B.  (specific gravity  1,0G0), 
;iiid  from  a  gallon  of  sirup  weighing  11  pounds  got  a  yield  of  about  4  J  pounds  to  tbo 
gallon,  lie  obtained  from  15  to  2\\  gallons  of  sirup  to  the  ton  of  cane,  weighing  11£ 
pounds  to  the  gallon,  the  simp  yielding  4^  pounds  sugar,  polarized  53°.  Of  amber  cane, 
which  is  the  only  sort  ho  has  worked,  has  known  as  high  as  21  tons  cut  to  an  acre, 
and  states  12  tons  as  an  average.  lie  sold  of  the  crop  of  1879  ovor  50,000  pounds  of 
good  C  sugar,  which  was  tested  in  Boston  and  Now  York,  and  polarized  96}  per  cent. 
Of  sugar.  In  L680  his  crop  of  about  300  acres  was  nearly  all  destroyed  by  a  hurricane 
and  the  product,  of  about  :'>()  acres  of  damaged  cane  was  all  made  into  sirup,  which 
polarized  only  \Z  per  cent. 

■  Op.  cit.,  p.  52. 

1  Department  of  Agrioulture,  Dlv,  of  Chemistry,  Bnl.  No.  C,  p.  9. 
(>i>.  eW.,p.  13. 
'Department  of  Agrionltnre,  l>iv.  of  chemistry,  Hub  No.  14,  p.  3G. 

6  Op.  cit.,  p.  36. 
*Op.  cit.,  p. 36, 

7  Report  Nat.  Acad,  of  Sciences,  p.  30. 


101 

Farther  data  concerning  operations  at  Crystal  Lake  and  Hoopeston 
I  give  in  quotations  from  the  communication  of  Mr.  Thorns  to  the  com- 
mittee of  the  National  Academy  : 1 

In  the  first  place  let  me  state  to  you  I  am  a  practical  sugar  refiner;  spent  some 
eight  years  in  the  West  Indies  making  sugar  from  cane.  So  you  will  perceive  I  came 
here  well  armed  in  the  knowledge  of  the  business  of  sugar  making.  In  August,  1879, 
I  saw  sorghum  for  the  first  time,  and  although  the  works  were  put  up  by  inexpe- 
rienced persons,  besides  being  so  near  the  time  for  grinding  the  cane,  we  had  not  much 
chance  to  make  the  necessary  alterations,  so  had  to  get  along  as  well  as  we  could; 
and  as  the  cane  was  new  to  me,  and  I  had  little  or  no  faith  in  its  sugar-producing 
qualities,  I  resolved  to  treat  it  with  as  much  delicacy  as  a  mother  would  her  sick 
child. 

In  consequence  of  the  vacuum-pan  boiling  the  sugar  so  hot,  and  not  being  familiar 
with  the  juice,  and  wishing  to  get  as  largo  a  yield  of  sugar  as  possible,  I  boiled  it 
rather  stiff,  which  made  the  grain  finer  than  I  wished  it,  but  to  the  experienced  that 
did  not  detract  one  iota  from  its  strength.  I  continued  to  run  until  I  had  made  over 
50,000  pounds  of  sugar. 

In  1880  we  had  made  alterations  in  order  to  do  some  pretty  good  work ;  planted 
about  300  acres  of  caue,  and  a  month  before  it  matured  it  was  struck  by  a  hurricane 
and  damaged  to  such  an  extent  that  we  received  only  the  product  of  30  acres ;  that, 
mixed  with  dead  cane,  rendering  the  juice  so  bad  that  the  sirup  only  polarized  about 
42  per  cent.  Boiled  some  for  sugar,  but  finding  it  very  gummy  abandoned  the  idea 
and  made  ouly  sirup.  Thus  ends  the  chapter  for  1880.  In  1881  the  spring  was  so 
backward  our  caue  hardly  matured,  and  the  sirup  from  it  polarized  about  the  same 
as  the  previous  year  (42^  per  cent).  Having  such  bad  luck  the  past  two  years  at 
Crystal  Lake,  111.,  where  the  above  experiments  were  tried  at  the  works  of  P.  A. 
Waidner  &  Co.,  we  have  concluded  to  abandon  any  further  work  at  Vic  above  place. 
I  should  here  state  that  Crystal  Lake  is  the  most  elevated  section  in  the  State  of 
Illinois  which  makes  raising  a  crop  there  rather  uncertain;  although  the  old  resi- 
dents of  the  place  say  they  never  experienced  two  such  years  with  sorghum  as  1880 
and  1881;  indeed,  that  is  the  general  verdict  throughout  the  country.  Crystal  Lake 
is  situated  about  44  miles  north  of  Chicago.  I  am  interested  in  a  large  works  at 
Hoopeston,  111.,  which  is  attached  to  a  corn-canning  establishment  erected  for  the 
purpose  of  utilizing  corn-stalks.  That  we  found  was  no  go,  as  the  stalks  had  but 
little  juice;  could  not  produce  enough  sirup  to  pay  expenses.  I  consider  the  corn- 
stalks had  a  thorough  test.  Wo  found  only  about  a  foot  or  a  foot  and  a  half  of  the 
stalk  to  contain  juice ;  the  rest  was  a  dry  pith.  At  the  time  the  coin  was  in  the  roast  - 
ing-ear.  The  corn-stalks  were  tested  in  1880.  In  1881  we  cultivated  500  acres  of  sorgo, 
and  the  drought  was  so  severe  wo  only  got  about  2$  tons  to  the  acre,  instead  of  from 
10  to  20.  Cane  was  very  thin  and  in  some  instances  not  over  2  or  3  feet  long,  sirup 
only  polarizing  40;  did  not  attempt  to  make  sugar.  This  year  we  are  putting  under 
cultivation  at  Hoopeston  1,000  acres.  We  sold  all  of  our  product  last  year  by  the  ear- 
load  in  this  city  at  50  cents  per  gallon. 

Notwithstanding  I  have  been  here  threo  seasons  I  have  not  had  a  single  day's  fair 
trial  of  sorgo  juice.  With  the  plant  of  machinery  wo  have  at  Hoopeston  now  to  work 
up  juice  such  as  I  had  in  1879,  I  am  sure  the  results  I  could  produce  would  astonish 
the  country. 

I  am  satisfied  of  ono  thing,  thai  tip-  cultivation  of  the  cane  is  not  thoroughly  un- 
derstood. One  great  drawback  here  has  been  the  want  of  proper  machinery  and  a 
knowledge  how  to  treat  the  juice.  They  Imagine  all  that  is  necessary  is  to  boil  out 
tho  water  and  let  nature  do  <  he  rest. 

1   Op.  ril.,   pp.  Ui>,  120. 


102 

I  have  been  a  very  careful  student  for  the  last  three  years,  and  consider  myself 
now  familiar  with  the  juice,  and  just  want  one  lair  chauce.  They  wren  thirteen 
years  in  Louisiaua  before  they  could  successfully  make  sugar  from  ribbon  cane.  We 
did  it  here  in  six  weeks." 

I  will  add  that  the  further  attempts  to  make  sugar  at  Iloopestou  were 
total  failures,  and  both  factories  have  beeu  abandoned  and  dismantled. 

FARIBAULT,  MINN. 

In  1879  a  factory  was  built  at  Faribault,  but  no  sugar  was  made.1  In 
1880  5,000  pounds  sugar  were  made.2  In  18S1  there  are  several  con- 
flicting reports  of  the  amounts  made.  Blakeley  reports  7,000  pounds.3 
He  also  reports  the  amount  at  11,000  pounds.4  The  total  amount  made 
during  the  season  is  also  given  at  15,000  pounds.5 

The  manufacture  of  sugar  having  proved  financially  unsuccessful 
further  operations  were  abandoned  and  the  factory  closed. 


A  large  factory  was  built  at  Champaign,  111.,  iu  1882.  This  factory 
was  under  the  immediate  supervision  of  Professors  Weber  and  Scovell. 
Professor  Weber  says  : 6 

As  a  result  of  the  experiments  carried  on  hy  the  writers  in  the  seasons  of  18S0  and 
1881  the  Champaign  Sugar  and  Glucose  Company,  of  Champaign,  111.,  was  organized. 
The  object  of  the  company  was  to  carry  out  on  a  commercial  scale  the  production  of 
sugar  and  glucose  from  sorghum,  as  was  indicated  hy  our  laboratory  experiments. 
The  company  was  orgauized  with  a  capital  etock  of  $25,000.  The  total  expenditure 
for  building  the  works  and  raising  the  crop,  however,  exceeds  $30,000. 

The  committee  of  the  National  Academy 7  say : 

In  188*2  the  results  of  the  sugar  mill  at  Champaign,  111.,  arc  reported  as  being  very 
satisfactory  to  owners. 

Several  hundred  thousand  pounds  of  white  sugar  were  made  iu  that 
and  the  two  following  seasons.  The  venture,  not  proving  profitable, 
was  abandoned. 

HUTCHINSON,  KANS. 

This  factory  was  built  in  18S2,  but  the  first  year  failed  to  produce  any 
BQgar.  In  1883  about  200,000  pounds  of  sugar  were  made,  but  at  a 
heavy  loss. 

1 1)  1SS1, 250,000  pounds  of  sugar  were  made,  but  still  with  a  loss.  Fur- 
ther attempts  were  then  abandoned  and  the  factory  lias  been  dismantled. 

STERLING,   KANS. 
The  first  season's  work  of  this  mill,  L882,  resulted  in   the  production 

of  a  very  small  quantity  of  sugar.    In  L883,  i7o,ooo  pounds  were  made. 

'Blakeley,  Beport  N';it.  Acad.  Sciences  on  Sorghnm,  p.  :'..">. 
•  Op.  <-/..  >>.  ::.".. 
Op.  "/.,  i».  36. 
♦Third  Ann.  Meeting  Win.  State  Cane-Growers' Association,  ]>.  33 
'Report  Nat.  Acad,  of  Sciences  on  Sorghnm,  ]>.  30. 
*Op.  oit.f  p.  78, 

1  Op.  rit.,  ],.  84. 


103 

In  1884  a  little  over  100,000  pounds  sugar  were  manufactured  and  the 
business  was  then  abandoned  as  unprofitable. 

FRANKLIN,   TENN. 

The  disasters  which  attended  the  fortunes  of  this  company,  18S3-84, 
were  not  softened  by  the  production  of  sugar.  The  young  sugar-boiler 
at  first  secured  a  few  crystals  in  his  pan.  Each  day,  however,  the  re- 
sults were  poorer,  u  and  at  the  end  of  one  week  no  trace  of  sugar  could 
be  found,  and  in  mortification  he  left  without  notice  and  has  not  yet 
been  heard  from.7'1 

OTTAWA,   KANS. 

A  large  glucose  factory  here  was  converted  into  a  sorghum-sugar  fac. 
tory.  Sugar  was  made  in  considerable  quantities  in  188 I  and  1885,  and 
the  house  was  then  shut  up,  the  business  being  attended  with  financial 
loss. 

RIO   GRANDE,   N.   J. 

This  factory  is  the  most  extensive  and  thoroughly  equipped  of  any 
sorghum-sugar  house  ever  built  in  the  United  States. 

For  five  successive  seasons  from  1882  it  was  conducted  with  the 
highest  skill.  With  the  aid  of  a  State  bounty  of  $1  per  ton  for  the 
cane  and  1  cent  a  pound  for  the  sugar,  the  company  was  able  to  hold 
together  financially.  With  the  close  of  188G  the  State  bounty  expired 
and  the  factory  has  now  been  closed  and  dismantled,  since  it  could  only 
be  run  at  a  loss  without  the  bounty.  In  all  nearly  1,500,000  pounds 
of  sugar  have  been  made  by  this  company. 

In  speaking  of  the  operations  of  the  large  factories  tlie  commit  tec 
of  the  National  Academy  says  : 2 

One  signal  success,  on  a  large  scale,  obtained  by  intelligent  attention  bo  the  results 
of  experimental  research  and  skillful  culture,  opens  the  way  to  a  repetition  of  like 
results. 

It.  is  from  the  States  of  New  Jersey  and  Illinois  that  we  are  able  to  cite  examples 
of  success  on  so  large  a  scale  and  attended  with  such  a  sat  isfactory  result  as  fairly  puts 
to  rest  any  doubts  as  to  the  product  ion  of  sugar,  on  a  great  scale,  in  a  northern  climate 
with  a  commercial  profit. 

How  sadly  the  members  of  the  committee  suffered  themselves  to  be 
deceived  the  financial  ruin  of  the  above  two  "successes"  has  attested* 

At  the  present  time,  May,  1888,  there  remains  only  one  sorghum' 
sugar  factory  on  a  large  scale  in  the  country,  viz,  at  Port  Scott,  Kans. 
One  is  building  at  Topeka  and  one  at  Conway  Springs,  Cans.  Col. 
Cunningham,  Sugar  Lands,  Tex.,  is  also  preparing  to  make  sorghum 
sugar  in  connection  with  the  sugar-cane. 

DISCUSSION   OF    Till:    DATA. 

Saving  thus  collected  from  every  available  source  the  results  of  the 
analyses  of  Borghum  juices  made  by  different  invest  igators,  except  those 

1  Department  of  Agriculture,  Div.  of  Chemistry,  Bull.  No.  5,  i>.  165. 
'Report  National  Academy  <>i"  Sciences  on  Sorghum,  pp.  :'•",  31. 


104 

recorded  in  Bulletin  17  and  Professor  Stubbs's  Bulletin  Ko.12,  it  ought 
to  be  possible  to  weigh  them  justly  and  to  form  some  approximately 
accurate  idea  of  the  value  of  sorghum  as  a  sugar  producer. 

First  of  all,  it  will  be  necessary  to  divide  the  analytical  data  into  two 
classes,  viz:  (1)  Data  derived  from  the  analyses  of  small  samples,  in 
other  words,  experimental  data,  and  (2)  those  obtained  from  analysis 
of  large  quantities  of  material  entering  in  the  process  of  manufacture  ; 
in  other  words,  manufacturing  data. 

I  have  collected  below  all  the  mean  analyses  of  experimental  samples, 
and  have  obtained  therefrom  a  general  average  of  the  character  of  all 
the  juices  which  have  been  analyzed  in  a  small  way. 

BY  THE  DEPARTMENT. 


1 

Authority. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

Total 
solids. 

Per  cent. 

Per  cent. 

Per  cent. 

Wetherell 

4.29 
4.13 

6.08 
7.00 

6.19 

3.65 

Erni 

10.31 

11.10 

7.86 

2.07 

8.90 
4.38 

Antisell 

5.94 

3.60 

Collier 

14.60 
13.80 
13.80 
14.60 
10.83 

2."  44* 

12.41 

2.47 

13.17 

2.14 

lA.ii 

10.05 

2.95 

17.08 

9.89 

3.85 

8.45 

2.90 

9.88 

2.17 

10.48 

1.33 



11.45 

1.20 



12.25 

1.12 

12.  63 

1.45 

10.  29 

3.21 

"15.' 34 

14.64 

1.87 

18.05 

11.7!) 

1.15 

15.97 

13.31 

0.93 

17.52 

12.44 

1.23 

it;.:;:. 

14.  35 

2.  8.") 

20.18 

Wiloy 

9.  04 

4.08 

14.81 

» 

13.25 

2.  :io 

10.73 

3.71 

8. 54 

5.99 

10.68 

3.  2') 

"i5.'36 

12.78 

1.77 

17.  78 

9.  32 

4.99 

15.27 

14.90 

1.32 

19.90 

14.83 

L25 

20.06 

14.72 

1.22 

19.66 

14.60 

1.18 

20.67 

14.48 

1.  99 

18.41 

15.71 

1.57 

20.  i\* 

15.89 

1.36 

20.  58 

15.05 

1.99 

20. 90 

11.24 

2.44 

17.00 

1».  6) 

15.60 

:t.  Kt 

3.41 

15.26 

10.23 

2.11 

l.V  16 

8.64 

2.  95 

14.40 

8.54 

3.11 

14.  54 

8.81 

2.  til 

14.40 

12.4f) 

1    !»!• 

17.  -JC 

13.46 

< 

17.31 

12.15 

2.  06 

16.77 

10.49 

1   HI 

17.50 

■ 

8.70 

4.15 

it;,  en 

Averages 

11.34 

2.80 

17.37 

105 


ANALYTICAL  DATA  OBTAINED  WITHOUT  TIIE  DEPARTMENT 


Authority. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

Total 
solids. 

Browuo 

Per  cent. 

7.00 

11.00 

10.33 

11.00 

10.94 

5.01 

5.57 

7.29 

9.35 

17.81 

5.00 

10.10 

9.61 

9.77 

11.89 

8.56 

11.95 

11.18 

12.08 

9.50 

10.63 

10.50 

7.00 

8.07 

8.20 

10.17 

10.75 

9.89 

12.10 

11.20 

10.  59 

9.50 

8.  20 
14.84 
15.10 
18.01 

7.17 
11.35 
13.99 
11.55 
8.10 
6.15 
7.89 
9.30 
8.70 
10.30 

10.  20 
7.45 

11.72 
6.13 

11.  » 
9.76 

12.50 
8.93 
7.  96 
9.88 
7.25 

11.92 

a  88 

9.00 
8.80 
10.16 
13. 16 
12.20 
15.16 
9.39 
10.  l'J 
7.  88 
'.i  in 

9.  K7 
«.  11 

a  ii 

10.80 
0.  88 

7.  9.'. 

Per  cent. 
3.00 
5.00 
5.67 
2.20 

Per  cent. 

G.35 

14.42 
14.80 

Hilgard 

Weber  &.  Scovell 

4.43 
3.00 

Weber 

Weber  &  Scovell 

4.84 
3.21 
2.85 
2.47 
3. '20 
2.68 
4.95 
4.20 
5.12 
3.06 
2.48 
3.09 

'is.' 66 

Weber  <fc  Scovell 

2.  85 
5.00 
6.  53 
5.  14 
5.  81 
4.17 
5.  1 5 
5.78 
4.97 
7.82 

"'ii'.u 

22. 60 

23.  50 

24.  50 
14.70 
18.60 

"""17."  66 
12.00 
13.50 
14. 20 
13.10 
13.20 
15.20 
14.41 
15.35 
11.12 
14.91 
1.-..00 
16.50 

Wiley 

Xancfli  &  Spulluuzam 

3.32 
3.22 
2.80 
3.  50 
2.13 
3.40 

1.45 
2.83 
1.06 
3.  28 
2.  28 
2.34 

Sweii  son 

Failyer 

Stewart 

Ncalo 

Stub bu  

16.34 
12.99 

Neale 

Willcox 

Cook  &  Nealo.. 

Averages 

10.00 

3.  83 

15.99 

±06 
Means  of  the  two  sets  of  data : 

rer  cein. 

Sucrose 10.  G7 

Glucose 3.:?vJ 

Total  solids 1G.GS 

The  means  of  the  above  means  of  experimental  analyses  show  that, 
taken  as  a  whole,  even  small  quantities  of  sorghum  have  not  been  par- 
ticularly suitable  for  sugar-making. 

If,  however,  we  study  the  analyses  in  detail,  it  will  be  seen  that  the 
sorghum  often  develops  a  surprisingly  high  content  of  sucrose,  an 
amount  in  fact  which,  could  it  always  be  produced  and  kept  long  enough 
to  allow  of  its  manufacture,  would  place  sorghum  in  the  front  rank  of 
sugar-producing  plants. 

ANALYSES  OF  JUICES  EMPLOYED  IN  MANUFACTURE. 

We  turn  with  lively  interest  from  the  experimental  laboratory  to  the 
large  factory. 

Unfortunately  the  promises  of  a  laboratory  experiment  are  not  al- 
ways performed  in  actual  practice,  and  in  the  case  of  sorghum  sugar- 
making  this  fact  is  emphasized. 

Following  are  the  means  of  the  analyses  of  samples  of  large  quanti- 
ties of  sorghum  juices  entering  into  the  defecating  pan. 

The  lessons  which  these  mean  analyses  teach  us  of  the  nature  of  sor- 
ghum juice  when  produced  on  a  large  scale  for  manufacturing  pur- 
poses are  far  more  valuable  from  a  practical  point  of  view  than  the 
teachings  of  an  experimental  laboratory. 

The  mean  analyses  are  taken  from  the  data  already  given.  Those 
from  Weber  and  Scovell  and  Weber  are  from  the  factory  at  Champaign, 
111.;  those  marked  Scovell  from  the  factory  at  Sterling,  Kans. ;  those 
marked  Swenson  from  the  Hutchinson  factory ;  those  marked  Collier 
from  the  large  operations  conducted  by  the  Department  of  Agriculture 
at  Washington ;  those  marked  Xeale  and  Hughes  from  the  factory  at 
Bio  Grande,  X.  J.,  and  those  marked  Wiley  from  the  large  operations 
carried  on  at  Washington,  Helena,  Wis.,  Ottawa  and  Port  Scott, 
Cans. 

The  means  of  these  analyses  show  as  accurately  as  possible  the  char- 
acter of  sor- hum  grown  on  a  large  scale  in  the  United  States  from  1880 
until  the  present  time. 

These  are  figures  which  do  not  deal  with  the  future  and  the  Ideal, 
but  set  forth  in  a  convincing  light  what  has  actually  been  accomplished 

in  the  growing  of  sorghum  as  a  sugar-producing  plant  on  a  large  scale. 


107 


I  believe  I  have  incorporated  in  these  general  means  the  average 
numbers  representing  the  composition  of  all  the  sorghum  juices  which 
have  entered  into  manufacturing  on  a  large  scale  of  which  analyses 
have  been  made : 

Means  of  analyses  of  sorghum  juices  manufactured  into  sugar. 


Analysts. 


Collier. 
Wfley  . 


Weber... 
Swenson . 
Hughes.. 


Neale. 


Averages 


Sucrose. 


Per 


cent. 
6.94 
8.38 
(i.  73 
7.85- 
9.23 
9.73 
7.78 
7.28 
7.52 
7.78 

11.10 

11.11 
9.75 

10.25 
8.76 
6.54 


3.54 


Glucose. 

Total 
solids. 

Per  cent. 
6.38 
4.09 
6.16 
5.00 
3.04 

3.  65 

4.  56 
3.74 
5.80 
4.76 
3.30 

Per  cent. 
15.22 
14.00 

15.  07 
16.15 
15. 99 
14.80 
14.50 

.    15.70 

4.59 

15.19 

We  come,  therefore,  to  the  somewhat  surprising  result  that  the  mean 
percentage  of  sucrose  in  the  juices  of  sorghum  grown  on  a  large  scale 
and  entering  into  the  manufacture  of  sugar  in  the  United  States  dur- 
ing the  past  six  years  is  only  8.54  per  cent. 

The  mean  co-efficient  of  purity  of  these  juices  is  5G.2  and  the  per  cent, 
of  available  sugar  on  the  basis  of  difference  between  per  cent,  sucrose 
and  sum  of  the  percentages  of  other  solids,  1.80.  Allowing  an  aver- 
age  extraction  of  CO  per  cent,  of  the  weight  of  cane,  the  theoretical 
yield  per  ton  for  the  time  indicated,  supposing  there  was  no  loss  in  man- 
ufacture, would  be  22.G8  pounds.  By  diffusion  extracting  03  per  cent, 
of  the  sugar,  and  calculating  available  sugar  as  sucrose  less  glucose 
multiplied  by  1.4,  the  theoretical  yield  per  ton  would  have  been  36.5. 

These  figures  need  no^  comment.  They  show  beyond  any  question 
that  the  failure  to  make  sorghum  sugar  profitably  in  this  country  lias 
not  been  due  alone  to  defective  machinery  nor  lack  of  skill,  but  chiefly 
to  the  quality  of  the  cane  which  has  been  used. 

These  practical  results  are  strongly  in  contrast  with  the  conclusions 
of  the  committee  of  the  National  Academy  of  Science,  who,  basing  their 
statements  on  the  results  of  the  analyses  of  small  samples  ol*  carefully 
cultivated  cane,  reached  results  which  in  no  manner  represent  the  act  ual 
data  of  experience.     The  committee  says  :l 

Those  analyses  have  shown  the  constitution  of  tho  juices  of  each  \  arietj  at  t  he  suc- 
cessive stages  in  the  development  of  the  growing  plant.  They  not  only  confirm  the 
well-known  fact  of  the  presence  of  sugar  in  thejuioes  of  these  plants  in  notable  quan- 
tity, but  they  also  establish  beyond  cavil  what,  seems  surprising  to  those  who  have 

not  examined  the  facts,  that  the  Sorghum  particularly   holds  in  its  juices,  when  taken 

at  the  proper  stn^e  of  development,  about  as  much  cane  sugar  as  i  he  beat  sngar*cane 
of  tropica]  regions. 

1  Report  National  Academy  of  Sciences  on  sorghum,  p    I  '■ 


108 

It  is  particularly  unfortunate  that  such  a  fallacious  conclusion  should 
have  been  published  on  such  high  authority,  not  so  much  because  of  the 
harm  it  has  done  and  will  do,  but  chiefly  because  it  is  constantly  used 
by  unscrupulous  persons  to  bias  the  minds  of  those  who  have  not  time 
to  investigate  this  matter  for  themselves,  thus  hindering  tfic  knowledge 
of  the  truth. 

A  strenuous  effort  has  been  made  in  certain  quarters  to  convey  the 
impression  that  nothing  has  been  learned  about  sorghum  since  tlie  re- 
port of  the  Academy  was  published  and  that  any  person  who  calls  in 
question  its  infallibility  is  unworthy  of  public  confidence. 

But  what  shall  we  think  of  the  care  exercised  by  the  committee  in 
forming  its  conclusions  on  this  matter  when  we  find  it  at  the  same  time 
indorsing  the  corn  stalk  sugar  theory  in  the  following  terms?  * 

By  reference  to  the  tables  it  will  also  bo  seen  that  of  the  eight  varieties  of  maize 
examined  in  1881,  seven  of  which  were  of  common  field  and  one  of  sweet  corn  : 

Per  cent,  of  cane  au^ar. 

3  analyses  of  3  varieties  gave  over 13 

9  analyses  of  7  varieties  gave  over 12 

22  analyses  of  7  varieties  gave  over 11 

29  analyses  of  7  varieties  gave  over 10 

35  analyses  of  7  varieties  gave  over 9 

Often  varieties  of  maize  grown  in  1880,  the  following  results  woro  obtained  : 

Percent,  of  cane  sngar. 

124  analyses  of  10  varieties  gave  over 9 

90  analyses  of  10  varieties  gave  over 10 

59  analyses  of  9  varieties  gave  over 11 

24  analyses  of  9  varieties  gave  over 12 

8  analyses  of  4  varieties  gave  over 13 

2  analyses  of  1  variety  gave  over 14 

1  analysis  of  1  variety  gave  over 15 

In  1880  over  62,000,000  acres  of  onr  land  were  in  maize,  or  38  per  cent,  of  all  the 
cultivated  land  of  the  United  States.  The  amount  of  sugar  thus  apparently  lost,  cal- 
culated on  the  results  obtained  at  the  Department  of  Agriculturo  in  the  last  three 
years,  is  equal  to  the  present  product  of  the  entire  world.  It  is  premature  to  Bay 
that  the  profitable  extraction  of  sugar  from  corn-stalks  is  demonstrated,  but  such 
a  result  may  yet  bo  possible. 

The  only  trial  on  ft  large  scale  for  extracting  sugar  from  corn-stalks  of  which  we 
have  record  will  bo  found  in  the  statement  of  J.  Ii.  Thorns,  of  dato  April  10,  appended 
to  this  report  (p.  119),  and  was  not  a  success.     It  is  possible  that  if  the  maize  had  turn 
allowed  >o  mature,  in  place  of  being  cut  when  the  ear  lean  in  an   immature  state  Jit  for  <an 
Wing,  the  retuli  might  hare  been  difl'ennt. 

I  have  taken  the  liberty  of  italicizing  the  last  sentence,  since  it  is  one 
of  tbe  most  remarkable  scientific  generalizations  that  has  ever  met  my 
view. 

I  will  add  that  the  committee  were  extremely  modest  in  limiting  the 
corn  stalk  sugar  to  the  whole  sugar  production  of  the  world.  Sixty- 
four  million  acres  of  maize  would  give  not  less  than  010,000,000  tons  of 
corn-stalks.  The  mean  per  cent,  of  sucrose  as  given  by  the  committee 
is  1 1.6,    The  total  quantity  Of  Sugar  which  IS,  therefore,  annually  wasted 

1  Op.  <it.,  pp.  41  ct  acq. 


109 

in  our  com  stalks  is  74,240,000  tons.  Since  the  annual  production  of 
sugar  for  tbe  whole  world  is  only  G,000,000  tons,  it  is  seen  that  by  a 
failure  to  utilize  the  means  of  wealth  which  were  so  carefully  pointed 
out  we  waste  a  quantity  of  sugar  twelve  times  larger  than  the  whole 
product  of  the  world. 

But  this  is  a  theoretical  computation.  Let  us  take  the  actual  yields 
which  the  committee  found  had  been  obtained:1 

It  will  be  seen  that  in  successive  years  there  was  also  obtained  from  the  stalks  of 
common  maize,  after  the  ripened  grain  had  been  jrfucked,  at  the  rate  of  900  pounds  of 
sugar  to  the  acre.  It  also  appears  from  the  correspondence  submitted  that  mauy 
parties  have  practically  secured  results  nearly  equal  to  these  in  their  work. 

At  900  pounds  per  acre  04,000,000  acres  would  give  57,000,000,000 
pounds,  or  28,800,000  tons. 

Those  of  us  who  have  been  brought  up  on  a  farm  and  know  by  ex- 
perience the  exceptionally  juicy  and  saccharine  character  of  the  corn 
stalk  when  the  ears  are  fully  ripe  can  appreciate  the  explanation  which 
the  committee  makes  of  Mr.  Thorns'  failure  to  secure  sugar  from  the 
stalks.    Credat  Jndmis  Apclla. 

The  above  opinions  show  the  danger  of  forming  conclusions  which 
from  insufficient  data  or  from  data  which  are  partial,  are  not  safe  guides 
to  the  whole  truth. 

It  is  evident,  therefore,  that  the  committee  of  the  academy,  having 
now  before  them  the  data  derived  from  the  attempts  at  manufacture  on  a 
large  scale,  to  which  I  have  referred,  would  compile  a  summary  wholly 
different  from  that  given  in  their  report. 

There  is  one  fact,  however,  which  is  emphasized  in  the  analytical  data 
which  demands  careful  attention.  It  is  seen  by  numerous  analyses  of 
the  juices  of  a  single  or  a  few  stalks  of  sorghum  that  they  are  capable 
of  furnishing  a  large  yield  of  sugar. 

The  question  therefore  arises,  "May  not  a  whole  crop  of  this  kind  be 
produced?" 

Without  referring  to  the  analyses  which  were  made  before,  it  will  bo 
sufficient  to  cite  those  made  by  the  Department  at  Fort  Scott,  Kans. 

I  call  attention  first  to  some  analyses  made  of  the  juices  of  a  few  canes 
expressed  by  a  small  "  hand-mill":2 


Date. 


Sept.  1!( 

Bept.22 

s.  pt  24 

Rent  :io 

Oot.2 

Oct  .'5  .. 

i  )ci.  5  

Means. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

T.-tal 

solids. 

P<  /•  >;  nt. 

/•.  /•  &  nt. 

/',  r  ,;  nt. 

13.54 

2.  97 

20.00 

14.  50 

•_'.  77 

21.20 

18.53 

2.41 

18.70 

12.88 

8.  78 

17.80 

1 1.  M 

1.77 

20.  20 

14.  87 

2.  18 

20.  70 

18.20 

2.  87 

19.70 

18.  72 

2.  GO 

19.  70 

1  Op.  cif.,p.4& 

8 Department  of  Agriculture,  Drv 


of  Chemistry ,  Bui,  No.  1  J,  p,  ir>. 


110 


With  such  cane  juices,  although  they  are  not  as  pure  as  the  average 
sugar-cane  juice  in  Louisiana,  it  would  not  be  difficult,  in  my  opinion, 
to  make  sugar  profitably.  The  data  which  I  give  are  easily  duplicated 
in  those  of  former  years,  but  this  point  is  so  well  settled  that  I  will  not 
dwell  longer  on  it  here. 

In  contrast  with  this  I  will  cite  an  equal  number  of  aualyses  made  in 
the  same  circumstances  : * 


Date. 


Sept.lG 

s.  pt.'j:j 

Oct.   l 

Oct   ". 

Oct   9 

Oct.12 

Oct.  13 

Means 


Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

Total 
solids. 

Per  cent. 

Per  cent. 

Per  cent. 

7.04 

7.80 

19.00 

3.  00 

11.  36 

20.30 

8.37 

4.  «»r. 

15.50 

it.  it') 

4.88 

18.80 

4.  :"> 

!i  63 

18.30 

G.  05 

l.  Ti- 

14.40 

5.71 

ll. 41 

21.50 

G.56 

7.82 

18.  2G 

It  seems  almost  incredible  that  two  sets  of  analyses  so  entirely  different 
in  their  results  could  have  been  made  on  samples  taken  in  identically  the 
same  manner.  This  remarkable  fact  discloses  the  great  difficulty  which 
the  sugar  maker  working  ou  sorghum  has  to  encounter,  viz,  the  unre- 
liability of  his  raw  material. 

This  difference  between  seven  of  the  best  analyses  and  seven  of  the 
poorest  ones,  made  during  the  same  season,  is  not  more  remarkable, 
however,  than  the  differences  between  two  sets  of  such  experiments 
made  under  similar  conditions  by  the  New  Jersey  station. 

In  the  data  already  quoted  we  find : 


1883. 

1886. 

Sucrose  in  .juice per  cent . . 

Total  sugar  per  acre pounds. . 

15.16 
3,  9G3 

7.95 
9.05 

These  two  illustrations  set  forth  in  a  most  striking  form  the  tendency 
to  acute  and  extensive  variations  which  the  sorghum  plant  has  shown 
ever  since  its  introduction  into  this  country. 

The  worker  in  sugar  cane  and  sugar  beets  is  reasonably  sure  of  his 
material.  What  it  is  to  day  it  will  likely  be  to-morrow  and  so  continue 
sensibly  until  the  end  of  the  season.  Unhappily  the  sorghum-sugar 
worker  has  no  such  assurance.  The  same  variety  Of  cane,  in  the  same 
degree  of  maturity,  will  show  the  most  surprising  differences  in  the 
sugar  content  of  its  sap. 

Prof.  Eippolyte  Leplay  has  noticed  this  variation  especially,  from 
year  to  year,   and   has  ascribed  it   to  t  he  process  of  degeneration.      He 

saya : 2 

The  culture  and  distillation  of  sorghum  cant'  bad  given  such  important  results  in 
Algiers  thai  Mr.  Hardy,  direo tor  of  the  Central  Government  nursery  at  Algiers,  an- 
nounced, bs  results  of  bin  experiments,  thai  from  l  hectare  (2.47  acres)  of  sorghum, 

1  Loo.  oit.  Ms   id  ;mt imr.  p.  ., ,  t  toq, 


Ill 

when  the  price  of  alcohol  was  171  francs  per  hectoliter  (2G.40  gallons),  ho  could  realize 
a  profit  of  8313  francs,  and  with  the  price  of  alcohol  as  low  as  70  fraucsper  hectoliter, 
the  profit  from  1  hectare  would  be  3340  francs. 

Under  the  influence  of  these  encouraging  results,  the  question  as  to  the  culture  and 
distillation  of  sorghum  could  not  be  doubtful. 

The  most  important  establishments  were  able  to  distill  from  8,000,000  to  10,000,000 
kilograms  of  sugar  cane  in  the  districts  of  Haute-Garonne,  Pyre'uc'es-Orientales  of  Vau- 
cluse,  and  in  Algiers. 

Five  years  later,  that  is  to  say,  in  1862,  all  this  grand  agricultural  and  industrial 
movement  had  disappeared,  all  the  large  and  small  distilleries  had  closed,  with  great 
tosses,  and  the  culture  of  sorghum  cane  was  almost  entirely  abandoned. 

What  have  been  the  causes  of  these  great  reverses  after  the  grand  success  of  the 
beginning  so  generally  and  so  well  established  .' 

Certain  circumstances  have  led  the  author  of  this  article  to  occupy  himself  per- 
sonally in  the  culture  of  sorghum,  mostly  with  a  view  to  its  industrial  utilization. 
He  took  an  active  part  in  the  grand  movement  of  which  sorghum  was  the  object  in 
1856  to  1802;  he  has  followed  all  the  phases  of  its  prosperity  and  of  its  decadence  as 
propagator  and  a-s  victim;  he  has  been  able  to  study  the  causes  of  the  failure  and  the 
means  of  avoiding  it,  but  the  discouragement  from  all  sides  became  too  great  for  him 
to  examine  with  coolness  and  mature  thought  or  to  attempt  new  efforts.  In  18(53  he 
finally  abandoned  sorghum,  which  every  one  else  had  already  given  up,  as  the  captain 
abandons  his  ship  at  last,  when  it  sinks  under  his  feet,  and  the  distillery  "  St.  Michel," 
at  Avignon,  was,  like  the  other  establishments,  closed  up  and  abolished.  Since  that 
time,  and  until  within  the  last  few  years,  sorghum  has  given  no  signs  of  life  and  no 
further  publications  upon  the  subject  have  been  made  ;  but  generations  pass,  the  de- 
feats of  the  past  lose  their  intensity,  prejudice  isdissipated,  and  there  is  born  of  these 
disasters  a  new  breath  of  youthfulness  which  creates  new  projects. 

We  have  studied  much  into  the  details  and  the  causes  of  this  failure  in  France 
in  many  manufactories  established  in  the  south  for  the  distillation  of  the  cane  using 
several  millions  of  kilograms  of  stalks  each  season.  The  first  year  the  production  in 
alcohol  was,  from  100  kilograms  of  stalks,  7.50  liters  or  quarts,  or  22  pounds. 

The  second  year  the  production  from  the  same  amount  of  stalks  was  G  liters  ;  the 
third  year,  4.  50  liters  ;  the  fourth  year,  2  liters. 

It  was  discovered  that  the  cause  of  this  reduction  in  the  quantity  of  alcohol,  and 
consequently  in  the  quantity  of  sugar,  was  due  to  the  fecundation  of  the  sugar  cane 
by  the  broom  cane,  or  Sorghum  vulgare,  which  is  cultivated  in  great  quantities  in  the 
same  localities.  The  crossing  is  caused  by  the  pollen  from  the  broom  cane  being  car- 
ried by  the  winds  to  the  Bugar  cane,  and  the  consequence  of  this  fecundation  was  that 
the  seeds  which  had  received  this  attaint,  when  resown,  produced  stalks  full  of  white 
pith  without  juice,  like  the  stalks  of  broom  coin,  or  stalks  half  pithy,  which,  instead 
of  containing  90  per  cent,  of  juice,  contained  only  1".  or  20  per  cent.,  and  this  juice 
was  of  a  quality  which  produced  a  small  quantity  of  sugar. 

All  means  employed  to  overcome  this  imperfection  were  without  Buecess,  One 
could  distinguish  by  the  peculiarities  of  the  spike  those  Btalks  which  had  not  been 
tainted  by  the  pollen  from  tin-  broom  corn,  but  this  influence  was  invisible  in  the 
seed,  which  had  been  fecundated  by  the  polhn  to  such  an  extent  that,  although  taken 
from  stalks  containing  IS  percent,  sugar  ami  sown  the  following  season,  would  pro- 
duce only  degenerated  cane. 

W'e  ha\  e  Been  stalks  of  sorghum  cane  produced  from  the  planting  of  seeds  from  the 
same  spike,  of  which  the  primitive  stalk  contained  16  per  cent,  ol  ve  bunches 

of  seeds  ami  single  seeds  presenting  such  entirely  different  characteristics  thai  they 
would  serve  t<>  constitute  as  many  different  varieties,  more  or  less  rich  in  sugar,  and 

which    in   reality   were  only   the  product   of  a  degeneracy   under  the   influence  of  a 

crossing  more  or  less  pronounoed  in  each  seed. 

Such  an  experience  lor  several  yean  was  disastrous,  and  it  is  upon  this  hybri- 
dizing of  the  sorghum  cane  and  the  broom  oano  that  all  the  responsibility  mutt  be 


112 

thrown.    Now  that  which  is  true  in  Fiance  should  also  occur  in  America,  and  the 
tana ea  lor  taw  failure  in  the  >    _  must  be  the  same  in  the  two  count  i 

There  is  no  doubt  of  the  truth  of  M.  Leplay's  ideas  iu  respect  of  the 
admixtu:  -     ^hnm  with  broom  corn,  but  such  au  admixture  can  be 

led,  and  if  this  were  the  only  cause  of  deterioration  we  would  have 
little  to  fear. 

Horace  Piper    ^     a 

The  natural  cross-breeding  of  divert:  riorqualil 

-     -  Hi       1  in  gram i neons  and 

leguminous  ar  us  plants,  which  are  raised  anunally  from  their  seeds. 

All  the  Tarieties  of  maize  are  very  liable  to  deteriorate  in  this  way.     Those  of  the 
Smjkmm  $mttkmrmt*m  intermix  so  freely  that  cultivators  have  found  it  almost  in 
ble  to  obtain  pure  seeds.    From  the  same  cause  mely  difficult  to  p: 

:' the  varieties  of  the  melon  pure  for  an 7  ..ble  time. 

ne  ean  have  any  seen ri~  _  mmi      >  unless  they  are  planted  many 

rods  from  all  others,  and  the  ■  which  seeds  are  to  be  raised  are 

coTered  with  small  I  g    ire  of  sufficient  size  to  inclose  each  and  protect  it  from 

-       -       .  '.  .       -     :—":-.'.._.  L:  -        r.     f  individuals  of  the  same  variety, 

when  taken  from  a  will,  as  has  before  been  observed,  have  a  tendency  to 

- 


The  rapid  deterioration  of  the  juice  of  the  cane  when  cut  has  been 
noticed  by  every  one  who  has  had  anything  to  do  with  sorghum.  This 
deterioration,  however,  is  independent  of  the  natural  variations  above 
mentioned. 

The  gradual  failure  of  the  sucrose  in  the  juice  is  also  noticed  when 
there  has  been  no  admixture  with  broom  corn,  as  pointed  out  by  Mr. 
Leplay.  This  has  been  unmistakedly  illustrated  at  Rio  Grande,  N.  J. 
The  sugar  in  the  amber  cane  there  has  been  failing  since  the  first  until 
the  year  1886,  when  the  juice  of  this  cane  from  several  hundred  acres 
was  so  poor  that  no  attempt  was  made  to  convert  it  into  sugar. 

My  own  observations  on  this  inconstancy  of  sorghum  have  been  pub- 
lished more  than  on 

In  speaking  in  a  previous  publication  of  the  difficulties  of  successful 
sugar  making.  I  said 

Acareful  study  of  the  foregoing  data  will  not  fail  to  convince  every  investigator  that 
the  manufacture  of  sugar  from  sorghum  has  not  yet  proved  financially  successful. 

The  men  who  have  put  their  mo:  termites  seem  likely  to  lose  h 

intending  investors  will  carefully  consider  the  i  .  forth  before  making 

a     The  expectations  of  the  earlier  advocates  of  the  industry  have 
the  predictions  of  enthusiastic  prophet-*  have  ■  ified.     It 

bo  unwise  and  unjust  to  conceal  the  fact  that  the  future  of  the  surgl. 

hat  doubtful.     In  the  first  place,  the  difficulties  inherent  in  the 
plant  itself  have  been  constantly  undervalued.     The  success  of  the  ii.  -  been 

baaed  on  the  belief  of  the  production  of  sorghum  with  high  percentages  of  sucrose  and 
small  amounts  of  reducing  sogar  and  other  impur 

But  the  universal  experience  of  practical  manufac  bat  the  a 

itation  of  the  sorghum-cane  is  far  inferior  to  that  jn  Dg  the 


'Ann.  Rep  -  >-partme 

irtment  of  Agriculture,  I 


113 


Another  i 


4u.i  i".:ri::;  ..■_.'.::..■_•  :.r?  :  :  ;.v  .::  ::;  ::.•  ^:  -  --:•:.._■-:■.  r  .:  '  -  _-  *? 
if:-:::.::-.'.?  :'  :. . .". .  -  :  .  .  .:>  ..  :r.-i  ■:  i^-.j  nz  .:>  •  .  -  ■-.  I:.--  ::  l.  .1- 
s»:  :^ '_-.■■_.■.:•.. :.  •.?::/"_:.>  -  ::■:•.  '.  :'.-...:  -r  ;■■:  ifr-i.  .-_-  :vs«  c  tt_.  ._  ii-  •:•:•:  ::  J  r  :!•* 
•..:,,:;_:-•:  :  :..-  :::  :•:  -  :".  ".  !■  '::.:•:••  _i  •  r  :■.*:.*:•  i  ..>-.?  ~  1  • :-  :  •  ■:-•■  ::l-:? 
cv::.:: .:  ".  .:.>  '• .-.-..  :.,  •  :\i":".f..  1:  .?  "_i  :•■../  7  :■:  :  -&  .  .-  ; :  ii  :  _t  :  r  . :  .  :  -  _  ■. :  -;  :  -- 
again  to  its  m\iiiaw  of  the  sears  prowil  Only  war,  noBnkavot,  or  drffiarthw  wonM 
r-:-->:.  ■..-.:'...--.  .  :  -  -  --  :..::-.::•:  :'.:-_-?._  :  -~  -r:  7.  *: ■. ■:  :  ,: -.  z  :-.^-.  11 
price  as  final,  and  make  his  arrangements  ami  Singly.    Bat  law  nanoes  anal  mannnva 

■  . 
creased  production  rasy  find  bis  hauanem  leanaamlay  »— amini*e  if  not  as  faa%hang 
as  before .  The  sorgham-«a£ar  grearer  mill  be  injered  or  hiaiaamii  with  taw  go  wean 
of  other  kinds  of  sugar  by  these  eeoaeamie  farces.  Hera*  itoer*  thwM  ho  no  n  an latj 
between  the  grotrerof  thoaorghonv  the  sagar-haet,  nad  ta*:aagar'-<^ae,baa  affldaoond 
■<v.  :"s  .:-.  :■..-,:  ■    :'   .   '        _.       ■  ,    _  ■  > . 

:rne  that  the  present  ontlook  is  daacoaaagiag.    Bat  iinnma&iiaaial  is  nca  oe- 

The  time  has  now  tome  far  solid,  eaer^etac  work,     finataaa  aaai  practice  anm* 

;;•■.-.-  ■:-.  ■■.  :."■  :\:.  :.,v        '.:.-.:■:     :,     '.  :.  :    „•  "    : :  :  .v.    t,:-.      .  .     >.':    v  :,ir,    .-..L-:    h    -.  -.    '/.._.. 

erer  m  i  Aiere.    la  is  not  wj>e  to  aaaaaiw  too  mach,,  bat  that  Baroaa  woafti 

fail  90  ;  her  to  suppress  the  diaconaaging  venerea  of  that  an* 

dastry  or  tail  to  leeogniae  the  posatotfit  5-  of  its  lanicmnw,    TV*  fiatat*  ineae»ac  on  the 

Atom  of  the  adceeates  of  aarghaat.    The  nwhftena  lihey  have  ot 

aolve  is  a  .  ineult  one>  hot  ita  aolntaam  is  not 

> 


m 

Again,  in  speaking  of  the  necessity  of  systematic  field  experiments 
insecuring  a  sorghum  suitable  for  sugar  making,  I  said  :x 

Such  a  series  of  experiments  carried  on  under  uniform  conditions  over  the  whole 
country  would  do  more  in  live  years  to  determine  these  great  agricultural  problems 
than  fifty  years  of  spasmodic  and  disjointed  work  could  accomplish. 

Much  of  the  success  of  the  beet-sugar  industry  of  Europe  has  been  due  to  a  wise 
selection  and  improvement  of  the  seed,  by  which  the  sugar  contents  of  the  beet,  in 
some  instances,  has  been  nearly  doubled.  There  iu  no  reason  to  doubt  that  a  similar 
improvement  (but  not,  perhaps,  to  the  same  extent)  could  be  made  in  Northern  cane. 
Such  an  improvement  station  could  be  established  at  small  cost;  but.  to  be  effective, 
must  be  continued  through,  series  of  years.  The  seed  of  those  canes  showing  the 
highest  sugar  content  should  be  planted  and  the  selection  continued  until  a  maximum 
of  sugar  is  obtained.  If  in  this  way  a  variety  of  cane  could  be  produced  which 
would  give  an  average  result  in  analyses  of  only  2  per  cent .  unerystallizable  sugar 
and  1U  per  cent,  of  sucrose,  it  would  prove  of  the  greatest  value  to  the  country. 

In  another  place,  referring  to  the  lessons  which  were  taught  by  the 
Port  Scott  experiments,  I  said:2 

The  chief  thing  to  be  accomplished  is  the  production  of  a  sorghum  plant  containing 
a  reasonably  constant  percentage  of  crystalli/able  sugar. 

Recently  in  a  public  address  I  said  :;i 

It  is  easily  seen  from  the  foregoing  tigures  that  in  four  years  I  have  never  found  a 
large  field  of  sorghum,  judged  by  the  juice  obtained,  which  was  rich  enough  to  make 
sugar  economically. 

On  the  other  hand,  intensive  culture,  like  that  given  to  a  garden,  has  produced 
sorghum  which,  with  the  improved  processes  which  have  been  introduced,  would 
easily  make  L50  pounds  of  Sugar  per  ton. 

The  sorghum  enthusiast  has  been  abroad  in  the  land,  and,  in  his  wake,  has  closely 
followed  the  crank.  Fairy  tales  of  the  richness  of  sorghum  have  been  told  every- 
where, and  have  often  obtained  credence.  Fictions  of  the  imagination,  and  often,  1 
am  sorry  to  say,  fictions  without  any  imagination,  have  portrayed  the  glowing  futuro 
of  sorghum-  a  futuro  full  of  triumph  and  glory.  Sorghum  has  been  extolled  as  the 
one  greal  savior  of  the  country,  furnishing  alike  its  bread,  its  sweets,  its  meats,  and 
its  drinks. 

The  hope  for  sorghum  is  not  in  new  methods  and  new  machinery;  it  is  in  the  akill 
and  patimcc  of  the  agronomist. 

Wise  selection  of  seed,  intensive  en  It  ure,  judicious  fert  ili/at  ion  —  t  hese  are  the  fac- 
tors I  hat  can  make  the  sorghum  sufficiently  saccharifacient . 

Still  more  recently,  having  collected  various  data  concerning  the  in- 
stability of  sugar  in  sorghnm,  I  presented  them  to  the  Indiana  Acad- 
emy Of  Sciences. 

From  this  paper  I  make  the  following  quotations:4 

ON  Till    CAUSES  OF  THE  VARIATIONS  IK    un    CONTENTS  01    SUCR06B  IN  SORGHUM    SAG- 
CHAR  \  ii   \i. 

For  some  years  I  ha  ve  been  im  eel  igating  t  be  Sorghnm  saooharatuin  in  respect  of  its 
adaptability  to  t he  prodnoi i »t    ngai . 

During  this  time  many  difficulties  have  been  enoountered,  ami  these  troubles  have 
all  been  overcome  with  one  exception.    The  chief  obstacles  Unsuccessful  sugar  mak> 

1  Department  of  Agriculture,  Report  l--:;,  pp.  1 13,  111. 
Departmeu!  of  AgriouN  lire,  Division  of  Chemistry,  Hull.  14,  p.  48, 
Bulletin  No.-.'.  Chemioal  Society  of Washiugton,  pp.  •-'-,  •'>. 

'Botanical  Gazette,  Vol.  XII,  No.  ::,  pp.  M  ett  i  a, 


115 

ing  have  been,  first,  unfavorable  climatic  conditions;  second,  imperfect  methods 
of  extracting  the  sugar;  third,  improper  treatment  of  the  extracted  juice  :  fourth,  va- 
riations and  rapid  chauges  in  the  sucrose  of  the  juice.  All  of  these  problems  have 
been  successfully  solved  save  the  last.  It  is  proper  to  say,  however,  that  certain 
methods  of  cultivation  and  certain  methods  of  selecting  seeds  tend  to  produce  maxi- 
mum contents  of  sucrose  in  the  cane,  and  these  methods  are  not  jet  fully  developed. 
A  proper  conception  of  the  variations  to  which  the  sucrose  in  sorghum  is  obnoxious 
can  not  be  had  unless  wTe  study  briefly  the  method  of  its  formation,  how  it  is  stored, 
and  the  physiological  functions  in  which  it  takes  part. 

Vegetable  physiologists  have  taught  us  that  a  carbohydrate  can  be  formed  by  a 
certain  retrogressive  change  in  protoplasm,  by  which  the  cell  envelope,  in  other  words 
cellulose,  is  produced.  The  carbohydrates  which  appear  in  the  embryo  of  a  plant  are 
developed  at  the  expense  of  the  stores  of  material  iu  the  seed.  After  the  appear- 
ance of  the  chlorophyll  cells  in  the  plant  the  production  of  carbohydrates  takes  place 
with  their  aid,  COg  being  absorbed  from  the  air  and  free  oxygen  being  eliminated. 

It  would  be  easy  to  explain  the  production  of  carbohydrates  by  supposing  that  the 
chlorophyll  cell  exerted  a  reducing  influence1  on  the  CO*  which,  with  the  assimila- 
tion of  water,  produced,  for  instance,  starch  by  the  formula  GCOj+SH->O  =  C6Hi0O5--f-Oi2. 
In  the  vast  majority  of  plants  it  is  found,  in  corroboration  of  this  supposition,  that 
the  volume  of  the  oxygen  set  free  is  sensibly  the  same  as  the  carbonic  dioxide  ab- 
sorbed. The  carbohydrate  which  is  generally  formed  in  the  chlorophyll  cells  is 
starch.  This  starch  is  removed  from  the  leaf,  and  it  is  supposed  that  the  carbohy- 
drates which  are  formed  in  all  parts  of  the  plant  are  derived  from  this  original  sub- 
stance. • 

In  point  of  fact,  however,  the  production  of  organic  matter  in  a  plant  does  not 
probably  take  place  in  the  simple  maimer  above  described.  It  is  more  likely  that 
the  presence  of  a  nitrogenous  body  is  necessary  and  this  proteid  itself  is  the  active 
principle  in  the  production  of  new  organic  matter,  by  a  certain  decomposition  it 
suffers,  with  the  help  of  carbonic  dioxide  and  water.  Nor  is  it  by  any  means  certain 
that  starch  is  the  only  organic  matter  formed  by  the  chlorophyll  cells;  in  fact,  it  is 
known  that  oil  is  often  the  product  of  this  constructive  and  destructive  metabolism. 

But  it  seems  reasonable  to  suppose  that  the  different  sugars  are  as  likely  to  be  formed 
in  the  leaf  of  the  plant  as  starch.2  When  we  remember  how  easily  starch  is  detected 
in  most  minute  quantities,  and  how  easily  sugar  is  missed  even  when  present  in  much 
Larger  quantities,  wo  do  not  wonder  that  vegetable  physiologists  have  supposed  that 
starch  is  the  first  carbohydrate  formed  in  the  leaf,  and  that  all  the  Others  are  derived 
therefrom.  Tin-  explanation,  which  is  made  of  the  translation  of  the  starch  from  the 
point  of  its  formation  to  the  localities  where  it  is  stored,  is  as  follows  : 

Take,  for  instance,  the  formation  of  starch  in  the  germ  of  cereals.  We  are  taught 
that  the  Btarch  first  formed  in  the  leaves  is  changed  into  sugar,  and  in  this  soluble 
state  carried  through  the  plant  until  it  reaches  the  seed.  This  sugar,  reaching  the 
point  where  tin-  seed  is  forming,  is  changed  to  standi  again  by  the  amyloplast . 

Lei  us  subject  this  the" try  01  the  translation  of  starch  to  a  brief  examination.  There 
arc  two  only  known  methods  by  which  starch  can  be  converted  into  BUgar,  vi/  :  First . 

by  the  action  of  certain  acids,  and  second  by  the  action  of  certain  ferments.    Tim 

conversion  of  standi  into  sugar  by  acids  even  at  a  high  temperature  and  with  the 
stronger  acids  is  very  slow.  It  is  simply  incredible  thai  such  a  conversion  can  take 
place  at  the  ordinary  temperature  in  the  Leaf  of  a  plant,  and  bj  reason  of  the  action 

of  the  extremely  dilute  weak  vegetable  acids  which  the  leaf  contains,    [n  the  same 

'It  has  lately  been  stated  thai  this  reduction  is  due  to  the  action  of  electrioitj  on 
the  leaf  -producing  hydrogen— and  this  hydrogen  is  the  active  principle  in  the  redoe- 

tion  of  the  carbonic  dioxide.     This  statement  appeals  to  be  purely  theoretical. 

1  Meyer  (Botanische  Zeitung,  14,  Nos.  ."Mi,  T,  8)  has  lately  Bhown  thai  the  leaf  of 
the  plant  is  incapable  of  forming  starch  out  of  sucrose.  LtBvulose,  etc.,  and  calls  es- 
pecial attention  to  the  fact  that  starch  ma\   not  be  the  original  substance  formed. 


116 

way  it  must  be  conceded  that  the  opportunity  for  tin-  art  ion  of  a  ferment  in  the  leaf 
is  extremely  Limited.1     Such  action  requires  time  and  much  more  favoable  eonditions 

than  can  be  found  in  the  living  leaf.  In  any  ease  if  sugar  be  formed  from  starch  in 
either  of  the  ways  indicated  it  could  not  be  sucrose. 

In  fact  the  reducing  sugar  which  is  found  in  plants  is  seldom  starch  sugar,  i.  0.,  mal- 
tose or  dextrose.  This  appears  to  be  a  fact  which  the  vegetable  physiologists  have- 
entirely  ignored.     The  sugars  of  plants  which  reduce  au   alkaline  copper  solution 

are  either  derived  f rom  sucrose  by  inversion,  or  more  probable  are  of  independent 
formation.  If  they  were  derived  from  starch  they  would  show  dextio  if  from  su- 
crose, hevo-gyration.  In  point  of  fact  they  often  show  neither,  as  I  long  ago  pointed 
out,  when,  in  view  of  this  optical  inactivity,  I  proposed  for  them  the  name  of  anop- 
tose.     Winn  they  do  show  rotation,  however,  it  is  left-handed. 

It  seems  to  me  that  there  is  one  fact  that  the  physiologists  forget,  viz,  that  standi 
is  not  always  insoluble.  In  my  examinations  of  sorghum  juices  I  have  never  failed  to 
find  soluble  standi  when  I  looked  for  it.-  The  existence  of  bodies  when  first  formed 
in  the  soluble  state,  which  when  once  made  solid  become  insoluble,  is  not  unknown. 
Certain  forms  of  silica  are  illustrations  of  this.  It  seems  much  more  reasonable  to  sup- 
pose that  in  the  case  of  the  sorghum,  for  instance,  the  starch  which  appears  in  the  Beed 
is  partly  transferred  directly  from  the  soluble  nascent  state  to  the  seat  of  its  final  depo- 
sition. This,  indeed,  is  hardly  a  theory  in  the  light  of  the  fact  mentioned  above — 
that  the  sap  of  the  plant  always  contains  soluble  starch. 

It  is  far  more  simple  to  suppose  that  the  sucrose  which  we  find  in  sorghum  is  pro- 
duced directly  by  the  decomposition  of  protoplasm  in  presence  of  carbonic  acid,  pro- 
voked by  the  katalytic  action  of  the  chlorophyll  cell.  At  any  rate  there  is  no  sort  of 
evidence  that  it  is  ever  made  from  starch,  and  no  physiologist  has  ever  invented  any 
hypothetical  saccharoplast  to  account  for  such  a  transformation. 

This  subject  of  the  origin  of  sucrose  is  of  great  interest  ;  but  I  have  not  yet  finished 
my  experimental  studies  of  it,  and  so  will  not  pursue  it  further  at  present. 

The  question  now  arises  is  the  sucrose  of  sorghum  a  plasl  ic  material,  reserve  mate- 
rial, or  waste  \  In  respect  of  plastic  material  it  is  sufficient  to  call  attention  to  the 
fact  that  the  development  of  sucrose  does  not  begin  in  the  plant  until  it  is  far  on  the 
road  to  maturity.  To  this  it  may  be  objected  that  its  accumulation  does  not  begin 
until  this  period,  and  that  what  is  formed  earlier  in  its  history  is  a  really  plastic  ma- 
terial used  in  the  development  of  other  tissues.  Had  I  time  I  might  show,  1  think, 
conclusively,  that  the  presence  of  the  sucrose  as  a  plastic  material  is  not  probable. 
Is  it  a  reserve  materialf  The  sucrose  which  is  deposited  in  the  seedsof  plants,  in 
tubers  like  the  sugar-beet,  and  in  sugarcane,  doubtless  is  a  true  reserve  material, 
and  by  its  decomposition  helps  the  growth  Of  the  succeeding  plant.  But  the  sucrose 
in  sorghum  Beems  to  have  no  such  function.  It  can  in  no  way  aid  the  incipient 
growth  of  the  next  plant,  for  that  plant  grows  from  a  seed.  As  far  as  an\  use  in  the 
economy  of  the  plant  is  concerned,  it  appears  to  be  absolutely  worthless,  it  is  true 
that  in  the  case  of  "  sucker  ing,w  the  sucrose  in  t  he  cane  may  sutler  loss,  imt  "sucker* 
ing  "  is  not  alw  a\  s  a  natural  growth  J  it  is  ad\  cut  it  ion  s  and  is  alw  ays  detrimental  to 
the  proper  mat  nrity  of  a  plant. 

Il  seems,  therefore,  that  the  BUCrOSe  in  BOrghum  is  purely  a  waste  material— as 
much  so  as  an  alkaloid  or  a  resin. 

In  tie    cases  where  BUCrOSe  is  a  true  reserve   material,  as  in  seeds,  in  tubers,  and    in 

Bugar-cane,  we  find  t  here  i-,  no  tend*  ncy  for  it  to  disappear  until  the  needs  of  the  new 

plant   require    it.     The   BUCrOSe    remains,  fox    instance,  unchanged    in    the  sugar  beet 

until  the  new  growth  begins.  The  same  Is  true  in  a  higher  degree  of  the  sucrose  in 
seeds,  'fhe  fact,  therefore,  that  in  sorghum  all  braces  of  sucrose  may  disappear  in  a 
few  days  shows  that  its  office  is  radically  different. 

1  The  i'ei  nieiii  which  a«ts  on  the  starch  has  been  studied  i>\  Brasse  and  s. dumper 
(Bied.  Centralblatt,  vol.  14,  p.  it;'.',  vol.  15,  pp.  310  and  473).     It  is  called  amylase 

'That  is  a  body  in  solution  which  gives  a  Mm-  color  w  n  h  iodine. 


117 

As  a  result  of  ray  investigations  I  will  say  that  the  development  of  sucrose  in  sor- 
ghum is  an  accidental  function,  or  rather  an  adventitious  function.  It  goes  on  usu- 
ally  pari  passu  with  the  formation  of  the  starch  in  the  grain  and  the  content  of  su- 
crose in  the  plant,  and  its  quantity  is  at  a  maximum  at  the  time  the  starch  formation 
is  completed.  In  the  sugar-cane  the  sucrose  appears  to  be  not  only  reserve,  hut  also 
plastic  material.  In  the  upper  part  of  the  cane  the  content  of  sucrose  is  much  less 
than  in  the  lower,  showing  that  in  the  region  of  most  active  growth  the  sucrose  may 
suffer  decomposition  and  help  in  the  formation  of  proteid.  (I  wish  to  add  here  that 
the  only  way  in  which  the  plant  can  use  sucrose  for  the  formation  of  other  bodies  or 
for  working  it  into  living  tissues  is  by  thus  getting  it  into  protoplasm.)  On  the  other 
hand,  the  content  of  sucrose  in  sorghum  is  sensibly  the  same  in  all  parts  of  the  cane, 
being  just  as  great  at  the  top  near  the  place  of  most  rapid  starch  storage,  as  it  is  near 
the  base.  It  is  not  strange,  therefore,  if  it  be  true  that  the  production  of  sucrose  is 
only  the  expression  of  the  exuberant  vitality  of  the  leaf  of  the  sorghum,  that  the 
greatest  variations  should  be  met  with  the  content  of  sucrose.  These  variations  are 
not  confined  to  different  varieties  or  to  different  fields,  but  are  found  in  the  same  va- 
riety in  different  canes  growing  in  the  same  hill,  and  which,  therefore,  have  been 
subjected  to  precisely  the  same  conditions  of  culture  and  weather. 

In  ten  successive  analyses  of  sugar-beets  made  two  years  ago,  I  found  no  greater 
variation  than  1  per  cent,  in  sucrose.  The  same  was  true  of  ten  successive  analyses 
of  sugar-canes  I  made  last  month,  November,  I860.  On  the  other  hand,  any  ten  suc- 
cessive analyses  of  sorghum-canes,  made  last  October,  will  show  a  variation  of  6  per 
cent. 

1  have  not  the  time  here  to  cite  all  the  instances  I  have  noticed  which  illustrate  the 
principles  set  forth  above.  They  number  hundreds.  Without  a  record  of  these 
analyses,  however,  the  tact  clearly  appears  that  the  chief  cause  of  variation  is  found 
in  the  accidental  or  adventitious  nature  of  the  formation  of  the  sucrose;  in  other 
words,  its  independence  of  the  life  history  of  the  plant.  When,  however,  the  sucrose 
has  once  been  formed,  as  in  a  mature1  cane,  it  is  subject  to  sudden  variations.  Sudden 
changes  in  the  weather,  severe  frosts,  followed  by  warm  weather,  or  simply  standing 
dead  ripe,  often  cause  a  rapid  disappearance  of  the  sucrose.  It  is  first  converted  into 
invert  BUgar  and  this  quickly  disappears  by  fermentation. 

When  the  canes  have  been  cut  also,  if  they  be  expressed  at  a  temperature  of  a  warm 
September  day,  the  sucrose  is  rapidly  inverted.  This  inversion  is  not  due  to  the  ac- 
tion of  t  he  acids  which  the  sap  contains,  but  is  produced  by  a  special  ferment,  proba- 
bly inveriin,  or  some  similar  substance.1 

These  variations  in  the  content  of  sucrose  are.  as  I  intimated  at  the  beginning,  the 
chief  obstacles  now  in  the  way  of  the  successful  introduction  of  a  sorghum-sugar  iu- 
dnstr\  into  this  country.  The  last  one  is  easily  avoided  by  promptly  working  the 
cane  as  soon  as  ii  i>  cut.  The  first ■  can  only  he  overcome  by  the  scientific  agrono- 
mist, aided  by  the  best  practical  botany  and  chemistry. 

Since  writing  the  above  I  have  received  the  Revue  Scientifique,  of  February  5, 
1887,  containing  a  not  ice  of  the  observations  of  Girard  on  the  production  of  carbohy- 
drates in  plants.  This  author  definitely  confirms  my  statements  in  respect  of  the  in- 
dependent formation  of  sucrose  in  Leaves.     The  reviewer  says  : 

"  Lee  experiences  de  If.  A.  < Hrard  mettenl  hois  de  doute  que  les  limbes  fabriquent 
alors  des  saccharoses  <t  des  Bucres  re*ducteurs," 

If .  Girard  show-  the  possibility  of  leaves  developing  starch  from  sucrose,  but  there 

appears  to  be  no  ,  \  idcuce  that  the  reverse  of  this  opera  t  ion  takes  place. 

\  EBLD    PBB   ACRE. 

In  the  experiments  <>r  the  New  Jersey  Btation  we  have  already  seen 
flic  theoretical  yield  of  Bngar  per  acre,     it  is  a  matter  of  considerable 

1  Duolouz,  Compt.  rend.,  103,  p.  881,  has  shown  thatsunlight  is  capable  of  inverting  a 
■010  ion  of  sin  ! 


118 

importance  to  know  what  the  average  yield  of  sorghum  in  clean  stalks 
per  acre  is.  Weber  and  Scovell1  report  yield  of  clean  cane,  equal  to 
15,766  pounds  or  7.88  tons  per  acre.  Professor  Henry2  gives  the  follow- 
ing as  the  yield  of  cane  per  acre  : 

Pounds. 

First  plot 30,348 

Second  plot 23,550 

In  1882  Henry  found  the  following  as  a  mean  yield  iu  clean  cane  of 
fifteen  plots  calculated  to  one  acre:3  Mean  for  fifteen  experiments, 
1 4,300  pounds =7.15  tons. 

The  yield  per  acre  for  the  field  crop4  in  the  several  fields  was  as  fol- 
lows: 

First  field 20, 906  pounds  =  10.45  tons. 

Second  field 14,  487  pounds  =   7.24  tons. 

Third  field 13,088  pounds =   6.84  tons. 

In  the  field  trial  of  cane  by  the  Department  at  Washington  in  1881 
the  average  yield  from  94  acres  was  5,000  pounds5=2.5  tons. 

The  mean  weight  of  clean  cane  per  acre  as  determined  at  Champaign, 
111.,  in  1882,  is  seen  from  the  following  data.0 

Number  acres 244.  59 

Number  tons 2, 682.  75 

Tons  per  acre 9.33=18,660  pounds. 

The  average  yield  of  0.85  acres  at  the  Wisconsin  agricultural  farm 
in  1882  was  16,200  pounds  per  acre,  equal  to  8.1  tons. 

Nelson  Maltby  obtained  (mean  of  17.5  acres)  0.5  tons  per  acre,  equal 
to  19,000  pounds.7 

Drummond  Brothers  report  an  average  of  20.5  acres,  at  9.17  tons, 
equal  to  18,340  pounds.8 

A.  J.  Decker9  reports  average  yield  of  45  acres  at  G  tons,  equal  to 
12,000  pounds, 

William  Frazier"  states  yield  for  45  acres  averaged  C  tons  per  acre, 
equal  to  12,000  pounds. 

A.  L.  Talcott11  estimates  yield  per  acre  at  9.G  tons  (220  acres),  equal 
to  1.9,200  pounds. 

Belcher  and  Schwarz18  report  yield  for  191  acres  at  3  tons  per  acre, 
0,000  pounds. 

1  Transactions  Department  <»i  Agriculture,  Illinois,  1881,  p.  601. 

]   :perimenta  In  Amber  cane,  1881,  p.  14. 
'Second  Annual  Report,  Amber  cane,  p.  8. 
*  Op.  tit.,  p.  it. 

Encouragement  <«»  Sorghnm,  i>.  :J. 
'()i>.  <it.,  p.  13. 
■>Op.  oi*.,p.  87. 
•Op.dt.t  p,  28. 
'(),>.  <■//.,  p.  :{.r). 
u>Op.  'it., ,,.:!?. 
nop.  el*.,  p.  46. 

wop,  oit,  p.  sa 


119 

Bozarth1  from  85  acres  reports  a  yield  of  8.1  tons  p^r  acre,  equal  to 
16,206  pounds. 

In  a  field  of  64  acres  grown  b  y  the  Department  of  Agriculture  near 
Washington,  in  18S3,  the  yield  was  746/250  pounds  of  clean  caue,  or 
11,662  pounds  per  acre,  equal  to  5.83  tons. 

At  Rio  Grande,  according  to  the  report  of  Professor  Cook  already 
cited,2  it  is  shown  that  the  average  yield  of  that  plantation  for  tive  years 
(about  1,000  acres  per  annum)  was  only  7.7  tons  of  un stripped  and  un- 
topped  canes,  or  of  clean  cane  about  6  tons,  equal  to  12.000  pounds  per 
acre. 

TONNAGE  PER  ACRE  DETERMINED  BY  THE  EXPERIMENTS  OF  THE 
NEW  JERSEY  AGRICULTURAL  STATION.3 

In  1881  the  average  yield  at  the  New  Jersey  experiment  station4  was 
4.84  tons,  equal  to  9,741  pounds  per  acre. 

In  1882,  in  fall-plowed  land,  the  mean  yield  in  sixteen  experimental 
plots  was  8.45  tons,  equal  to  17,110  pounds5  per  acre. 

For  the  spring-plowed  laud  the  numbers  are  9.84  tons  per  acre,  equal 
to  19,680  pounds.0 

For  18S3  the  mean  yield  of  sixteen  experimental  plots  was  14.4  tons, 
equal  to  28,851  pounds  per  acre.7 

In  1884  the  mean  yield  of  sixteen  experiments  was  10.30  tons,  equal 
to  20,601  pounds  per  acre.8 

In  1885  the  mean  yield  of  sixteen  plots  was  12.48  tons,  eqnal  to 
24,965  pounds  per  acre. 

In  1886 9  the  mean  weight  of  cane  on  fourteen  fertilized  plots  calcu- 
lated to  1  acre  was  of  clean  cane  10,443  pounds,  equal  to  5.22  tons. 

I  believe  a  perfectly  fair  average  of  the  yield  per  acre  of  sorghum, 
taking  into  consideration  all  seasons  and  methods  of  culture  and  fertiliz- 
ing, will  be  found  by  the  investigation  of  the  foregoing. means. 

xOp.  cit.,  p.  58. 

•Sixth  Ann.  Krpnrl  New   Jersey  Agricultural  ExpiMinn'iil  Station,  p.  119. 


Ami.  reports  of  station. 

*Op. 

cit., 

1881,  p. 

15. 

»  Op. 

cit., 

,  1882,  p. 

64. 

•  Op. 

cit., 

p.  65. 

:  Op. 

rit., 

1883,  p. 

70. 

»0)>. 

cit. 

.  L884,  p 

34. 

*Op. 

cit. 

,  188(»,  p. 

151. 

120 


.>  it  mm  (in/. 


Authority. 


Weber  and  Scored  

Henry  and  Sweuaon 

Henry 

Harvey  

Weber  and  Scovell 

Henry  and  Swcnson    

Maltl'.y 

Drummond  Bros 

Decker 

Frazier  

Talcott 

Belcher  and  Schwartz 

Bozarth  

Wiley 

Hnghea  and  Cook 

Cook 

Genera]  averagi  per  acre 


We  may,  therefore,  place  the  average  crop  of  topped  and  stripped 
jane  in  round  numbers  at  8  tons  per  acre. 

Practical  farmers,  chemists,  and  manufacturers  have  long-  recognized 
the  imperative  necessity  of  producing  abetter  raw  material  for  sorghum 
sugar  in, iking,  hut  many  of  those  who  have  gone  into  the  business  have 
not  been  impressed  with  such  a  necessity. 

In  many  of  our  newspapers,  in  some  official  documents,  and  in  tin1 
report  of  the  Academy  of  Sciences,  which  has  already  been  (juoted, 
sorghum  lias  been  represented  as  the  equal  of  Louisana  sugar-cane,  ami 
therefore  the  meat  inferiority  of  it  to  that  sugar  plant  has  been  first 
revealed  by  the  crash  of  financial  failure. 

Among  the  methods  which  have  been  tried  for  increasing  the  suerose 
in  sorghum  I  will  cite  the 

EFFECT   OF    REMOVAL   OF   THE  BEES    BEADS. 


The  question  of  the  formation  of  sucrose  in  the  sorghum  cane  has 
already  been  discussed. 

Formerly,  when  it  was  considered  that  the  starch  was  derived  from 

the  sucrose,  it  was  supposed  a  priori  that  the  removal  of  the  panicle, 
(bus  preventing  the  formation  of  starch,  would  lend  to  increase  the  per* 

Cectage  Of  sucrose  in  the  juice. 

It  is  stated  in  Hyde's  book  '  that  — 

1  1  be  <  'inn'  Be  8ugar-<  lane,  Hyde,  pp,  •-':'•.  24. 


121 

The  ripeness  of  the  seeds  does  not  appear  much  to  lessen  theproductiou  of  sugar,  at 
least  in  the  climate  near  Paris,  but  in  other  countries  where  it  matures  when  the 
weather  is  still  warm  the  effect  may  he  different.  According  to  the  report  of  M.  de 
Beauregard,  addressed  to  the  "  Cornice  de  Toulon,"  the  ripening  of  the  sorgho  in  that 
latitude  had  no  unfavorable  effect ;  and  he  considers  the  seeds  and  the  sugar  as  two 
products  to  be  conjointly  obtained.  On  the  other  hand,  Mr.  Wray  says  the  Zulu- 
Kaffirs  are  in  the  habit  of  pulling  off  the  panicles  of  the  plant  the  moment  they  ap- 
pear, in  order  to  augment  the  quantity  of  saccharine  matter  in  the  stalks. 

Mr.  Leonard  Wray1  makes  the  same  statement.  In  the  direction  for 
making  sugar  from  sorghum  priuted  in  "  The  Working  Fanner,"  and 
quoted  in  the  book  of  Mr.  Stansbury,2  occurs  the  following  sentence : 

When  the  grower  intends  to  make  sugar,  he  should  pinch  off  the  seed  heads  before 
they  are  fully  formed,  or  indeed  as  soon  as  they  appear,  thus  causing  the  plant  to 
give  a  larger  yield  of  stronger  juice. 

In  1882  and  1883  experiments  were  made  by  Prof.  II.  A.  Weber  and 
Prof.  M.  A.  Scovell,  at  Champaign,  111.,  to  determine  the  effect  of  the 
removal  of  the  seed  heads.    Following  is  Professor  Weber's  report  :3 

The  first  experiment  in  topping  cane  was  made  in  the  season  of  1832.  It  was  sug- 
gested by  the  theory  that  the  starch,  which  forms  about  6:J  per  cent,  of  the  weight  of 
the  seed,  could,  by  removing  the  top  in  time,  be  retained  in  the  stalk  in  the  form  of 
cane  sugar.  The  experiments  in  this  direction  fully  proved  the  correctness  of  this 
theory.  In  tin-  first  experiment  a  portion  of  the  heads  was  removed  from  a  plat  of 
Amber  cane  soon  after  they  made  their  appearance  and  before  there  was  any  visible 
formation  of*  seed.  When  tin;  remaining  cane  had  reached  the  hard-dough  stage 
comparative  analyses  were  made,  with  the  followiug  results: 


Topped. 

Untoppctl. 

Density,  Bamn6 

Cane  sugar,  per  cent.  . . 
(irape  sugar do 

9.5 
12.62 

2.58 

8.1 
7.  80 

4.80 

In  the  season  of  1883  two  more  experiments  were  made  in  this  direction.  In  the 
first  one,  a  field  of  Kansas  orange  cane  was  chosen.  Two  rows  lying  side  by  Bide  and 
of  uniform  growth  were  selected.  One  was  topped  as  soon  as  the  heads  appeared. 
The  first  comparative  analyses  were  made  on  September  li>,  when  the  upper  hall'  of 
the  seed  heads  was  in  the  hardening  dough.     The  results  are  as  follows: 


topped. 

CTntopped. 

Deaaity,  ''••nun.' 

•  '.nil-  sugar,  per  cent. .. 
I  trape  sugar.. .  do 

10.  s 
n  i 

4.01 

9.x 
11.88 

Two  more  comparative  analyses  of  the  same  rows  were  mad< 

the  seed  w  as  fully  ripe. 


<  October  2,  after 


1  Agricultural  Report  I -."»!,  p,  •_>•.' j 
•Stansbury.  Chinese  Sugar-Cane.  p.  '.{." 


•Department  of  Agriculture,  Division  of  Chemistry,  Ball.  No.  5,  pp.  145,146. 


122 


Tin-  following  table  shows  the  results 


Topped.      Untopped. 

13.  3                9.  4 
14.82  ■          11.53 
J.  82               3.  53 

( lane  sugar,  per  cent   .  - 
» trape  sugar.. .  do 

The  last  test  was  made  with  a  plat  of  Indian  cane.  The  topping  was  done  Angus! 
23,  three  days  after  the  heads  began  to  appear. 

The  comparative  analyses  were  made  October  f>.  At  this  date  the  seeds  were  per- 
fectly ripe,  and  would  drop  from  the  head  when  shaken. 

The  results  are  given  in  the  following  table: 


Topped. 

Uutopped. 

Density,  Bauiue 

Cane  sugar,  per  cent... 
Grape  sugar...  do 

10.2 
13.04 
1.54 

8.3 
10.06 
2.4G 

These  results  show  an  increase  of  over  3  per   cent,  of  cane  sugar  in   favor  of  the 
topped  cane. 

Dr.  Collier  also  was  led  to  investigate  the  same  subject.1 
Two  sets  of  analyses  were  made.     In  the  first  set  of  ninety  six  pairs 
of  analyses  the  results  are  as  follows  : 


In  the  juice. 


<<i<  (1 
removed. 

Seed  on 

Per  cent. 
L2.66 

.1)7 
16.61 

D.  98 

1.  10 

14.31 

Iii  the  second  set  of  forty-two  pairs  of  analyses  the  results  were  as 

follows  : 


Sucro  ii 

Glucose  

Total  solid* 


Seed 
removed 


/',■/■  crnl. 

11.84 

i     i 


s,  .'.I  on. 


I 

I  •_'.  08 
1.08 
LB.  89 


Dr.  ("oilier  makes  the  following  observations  on  the  results  of  these 
anal)  ses : ' 

The  practical  conclusions  from  these  results  an-,  thai  there  is  no  Incompatibility 
between  th<-  maximum  crop  of  ripe  ^•••■d  possible,  and  the  maximum  eon  lent  of  sugar 
in  the  j  nice  of  the  stalks;  and  that,  owing  to  the  more  rapid  development  of  the  cane 

'  Collier's  Sorghnm,  pp.  L3dand241;  Special  Report,  pp.  I8e/sej« 

Op.  Olt.    p.    I  in 


123 


from  which  the  seed  has  been  removed,  the  time  necessary  from  planting  to  the  ma- 
turity of  the  crop  would  be  shortened  from  seven  to  ten  days  for  each  of  the  varie- 
ties, if  the  seed  was  removed  early. 

Iii  1884  I  made  a  large  number  of  experiments  in  the  study  of  the 
effect  of  topping  the  canes.1 

After  having  compared  all  the  analyses  the  following  conclusions 
were  reached : 2 

The  effect  of  cutting  off  the  young  heads  in  increasing  the  per  cent,  of  sucrose  was 
not  as  marked  as  had  been  expected,  being  a  little  less  than  .3  per  cent. 

Experiments  on  a  much  larger  scale  were  made  at  Ottawa,  Kans.,  in 
1885,  and  these  trials  confirmed  in  every  respect  the  results  obtained  at 
Washington  the  preceding  years. 

Following  arc  the  data  : 3 

Means  of  ten  analyses. 


Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

Total 
solids. 

Per  cent. 
17.26 
17.31 
16.77 

Topped  and  suckered  canes 

Toppped  canes,  not  suckered  .. 
Natural  canes 

Per  cent. 
12.45 
12.  4  0 
12.15 

Per  cent. 
1.99 

2.09 
2.06 

From  the  above  results  it  is  seen  that  no  appreciable  increase  of  su- 
crose is  obtained  by  topping  and  suckering  the  canes. 

Even  had  experiments  shown  a  notable  increase  in  sucrose  in  the 
juices  of  those  canes  from  which  the  seed  heads  had  been  removed  the 
practical  difficulties  attending  the  process  would  prevent  it  from  ever 
becoming  more  than  an  experimental  study. 

J  think,  therefore,  we  may  at  once  dismiss  all  expectations  of  ever 
increasing  the  value  of  sorghum  as  a  sugar  producer  by  preventing  the 
maturation  of  the  seed. 

THE  FORT  SCOTT  EXPERIMENTS. 

For  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  sorghum  sugar  making  an  oppor- 
tunity was  presented  at  Fort  Scott  in  L886  to  try  under  identical  con- 
ditions the  relative  merits  of  Louisiana  sugar  cane  and  Kansas  sorghum 
as  sugar-producing  plants. 

The  light  which  this  trial  has  thrown  on  the  vexed  problem  has  served 
to  illuminate  many  points  which  were  in  obscurity.  A  candid  study  of 
the  results  of  the  experiments  will  set  at  rest  all  doubts  in  respect  of  the 
relative  merits  of  these  two  sacchariferons  plants. 

In  the  Chicago  Journal  of  Commerce  of  July  <>.  L887,  Dr.  Collier  makes 
a  comparison  of  the  analyses  of  juices  of  sorghum  and  sugar  canes, 
which  he  submits  as  the  teachings  of  years  of  experiment. 

1  Department  of  Agriculture,  I>i\  of  i  IhetnUtry,  Ball.  No.  5,  pp.  I 

Op.  <•;/., ,,,,.  l  ii.  1 16, 
•Bull.  No.  6,  p.  16. 


124 

From  these  analyses  be  draws  the  following  conclusions: 

The  average  of  the  above  (including  two  hundred  and  two  analyses  of  sugar-cane 
juices  grown  on  different  plantations  and  in  different  years,  and  of  three  hundred  and 
thirty-one  analyses  of  many  varieties  of  sorghnm  jnices  also  grown  in  different  years) 

gives  for  each  ton  of  sugar  cane  225  pounds  total  sugar,  of  which  179  pounds  are  the- 
oretically available,  and  for  each  ton  of  sorghum  cane  a  total  of  361  pounds  of  sugar, 
of  which  199  pounds  are  available. 

In  respect  of  the  quality  of  the  crop  of  sorghum  at  Fort  Scott  the  same 
writer  in  the  Journal  of  Commerce  of  the  date  mentioned,  after  quoting 
the  results  of  a  single  analysis,  makes  the  following  observations  : 

Now,  the  above  shows  in  each  ton  of  cane  'J;'>-4  pounds  total  sugar,  of  which  169 
pounds  were  available. 

Such  was  the  average  crop  of  cane  according  to  the  very  best,  and  indeed  the  only 
method  by  which  its  value  could  be  ascertained. 

It  is  thus  seen  that  it  has  been  claimed  that  the  sorghum  crop  at 
Fort  Scott  was  not  only  equal  to  Louisiana  cane,  but,  iu  fact,  far  supe- 
rior to  it  in  its  sugar-making  qualities. 

The  same  authority  says:  l 

The  next  question  which  arises  is  most  naturally  this:  Granting  that  this  sugar 
is  found  in  the  crop  of  cane,  can  it  be  recovered  by  processes  similartotho.se  em- 
ployed on  the  sugar-cane  plantations  of  the  South  or  the  best  sugar  factories  of  Eu- 
rope?   I  reply  with  a  decided  yes  to  this  most  important  practical  question. 

In  the  light  of  these  statements  the  value  of  the  actual  comparison 
is  greatly  increased. 

ABSTKACT   OP  EXPERIMENTS  WITH  SORGHUM   AT  FOK T  SCOTT,  KAN'S., 

IN  1S8G.2 

Mean  composition  of  juices,  seventy  analyses,  expressed  from  small 
quantities  of  sorghum  canes  daring  the  entire  season  : :] 

Pel   .-.  li! 

Sue  lose it.  ill 

(iluco.se 4.  10 

Total  Bolids 16. 94 

Parity  co-efficienl 65»14 

The  small  samples  of  cane  above  mentioned  were  taken  in  such  a  waj 
as  to  represent  as  nearly  as  possible  the  general  character  of  cane  en- 
tering  the  mill.  Lt  is  idle  to  claim,  however,  that  in  nearly  3,000  tons 
of  cane,  varying  in  such  a  marked  manner  as  has  already  been  set  forth, 

SUCh  ;i  selection  of  samples  could  accurately  represent  the  whole.  They 
might  give  results  better  or  worse  than  the  average.  Which  of  thest 
Was  th<'  <•;!><'  with    the  above  samples  will  appear    l>\  studying  closel; 

the  following  data  : 

SAMPLES  COLLECTED  PROM   CHIPS   ENTERING  EACH  CELL   \M>  A  1' IT.  11 
MIXING    PASSED  THROUGH    SMALL   MILL. 

Such  samples  represent  much  more  accurately  than  those  just  stud- 
led  the  average  composition  of  the  canes  entering  into   manufacture] 

1  Chicago  Journal  of  Commerce,  November  IT,  L88t5. 
'Department  of  Agriculture,  Div.  of  Chemistry,  BulL  N«>.  it. 
*0p,  oil.,  pp.  it.  16. 


125 

They  were  taken  on  twelve  different  days,  from  October  15  to  27,  and 
each  sample  represents  the  mean  composition  of  10  tons  of  cane.  The 
means  of  the  twelve  samples  are  as  follows  : ■ 

In   the  juice. 

Per  cent 

Sucrose 7.28 

Glucose o.  74 

Total  solids 14.  80 

Purity  co-efficient  49.00 

MEAN  COMPOSITION   OF   THE  DIFFUSION  JUICES  FOR  THE   WHOLE 

SEASON. 

Following  are  the  means  of  seventy-six  analyses2  extending  over  the 
whole  season.  The  samples  were  taken  (a  measured  quantity)  from 
each  cell  when  discharged.  After  ten  samples  were  collected  and  mixed 
the  analysis  was  made.  The  results  of  the  aualyses  are,  therefore,  a 
true  index  of  the  diffusion  juices  for  the  entire  season:2 

Per  ceut. 

Sucrose 5. 10 

Glucose 3.  07 

Total  solids 11.  47 

Purity  co-efficient 44.  4 

There  is  one  point  in  the  above  data  to  which  I  desire  to  expressly  call 
attention.  The  juice  which  was  actually  worked  for  sugar  at  Fort  Scott 
was  the  diffusion  juice,  of  which  the  mean  composition  is  given  above., 
This  juice,  according  to  the  methods  of  estimating  its  value  in  common 
use,  not  only  would  not  yield  crystallizable  sugar,  but,  on  the  other  hand, 
could  have  had  a  large  quantity  of  pure  sugar  added  to  it  before  any 
could  be  obtained  in  the  ordinary  process  of  manufacturing. 

The  above  is  the  actual  character  of  the  juices  which  Dr.  Collier  has 
stated  had  in  each  ton  "238.5  pounds  sugar,  of  which  1(5!)  pounds  were 
available." 

We  now  turn  for  comparison  to  the  data  obtained  with  identically 
the  same  processes  employed  at  Fort  Scott  to  make  sugar  from  sugar 
cane. 

The  canes  on  which  these  trials  were  made  were  cut  in  Louisiana  Oc- 
tober l'.")  to  30,  and  subjected  to  diffusion  at  Fort  Scott,  November  6  and 

V,  1880. 

mi;\.\  COMPOSITION  OF   rin:  JUICES  in    tin;  cam:. 
Samples  of  chips  were  taken  from  each  cell  until  twelve  were  tilled. 

These  samples  were    passed   through    the   small    mill   and    the  analyses 
made  in  the  mixed  juices. 

Five  sets   of  analyses  were   made,  giving  the    mean    composition    of 

seventy-two  tons  of  chips. 

J  Op.  (it.,  p.   IT.  pp.   1-,  I'.'. 


126 

Following  are  the  means  of  the  results : 

In  juice. 

Per  ct-nt. 

Sucrose 10.G8 

Glucose 1.78 

Total  solids 14.38 

Purity  co-efficient 73.fi 

COMPOSITION   OF   DIFFUSION  JUICES  FROM   ABOVE   CANES. 

The  samples  were  taken  by  withdrawing  a  measured  quantity  from 
each  of  the  twelve  cells  and  thoroughly  mixing.  Six  sets  of  analyses 
were  made. 

Following  are  the  means: 

Per  etiit. 

Sucrose 7.16 

Glucose 1.23 

Total  solids 0.86 

Purity 72.6 

In  this  connection  it  must  be  remembered,  too,  that  the  mean  temper- 
ature used  in  the  diffusion  of  sorghum  chips  was  70°  C,  while  for  sugar 
cane  the  diffusion  took  place  at  90°.  Therefore,  a  much  greater  inver- 
sion would  be  expected  with  the  former  than  with  the  latter. 

In  point  of  met,  it  has  been  clearly  established  that  the  sucrose  in 
ripe  and  fresh  sorghum  canes  undergoes  no  appreciable  inversion  dur- 
ing the  process  of  diffusion  at  70°,  if  that  process  is  not  delayed  by 
faulty  machinery  or  accidents.  When  inversion  in  the  battery  does  take 
place,  it  is  due  to  the  fact  that  chips  are  used  which  are  not  in  a  fit  state 
for  sugar  making,  or  by  reason  of  some  delay  in  the  process. 

Without  discussing  further  the  details  of  the  experiments  with  sugar- 
cane, I  desire  to  call  your  attention  to  the  following  points  : 

(1)  Sorghum-canes  manufactured  at  Fort  Scott  in  1SS6  gave  a  yield 
of  21.6  pounds  sugar  per  ton. 

(li)  Louisiana  sugarcane,  manufactured  at  the  same  place,  by  iden- 
tically the  same  processes,  and  under  identical  conditions,  save  that  the 
temperature  in  diffusion  was  20°  higher,  gave  144  pounds  sugar  per  ton. 

The  sorghum-cane,  therefore,  grown  at  Fort  Scott  was  nearly  seven 
times  less  valuable  for  sugar  making  than  the  sugar-cane.  I  am  fully 
convinced  Of  the  fact,  however,  that  had  the  machinery  at  Port  Scott 

in  L886  been  perfect,  so  that  the  sorghnm  could  have  been  promptly 
worked  at  mat  urity.  the  quantity  of  sugar  it  made  would  have  been 
greatly  increased.    This  fact  1  have  emphasized  in  Bulletin  No.  L4. 

It  will  be  of  interest  in  closing  this  brief  review  of  our  present  knowl- 
edge concerning  sorghnm  and  sugar  cane,  to  add  to  the  summary  given 

the  results  of  the  final  experiments  recorded  in  Bulletin  No.  17.     In  the 

summary  of  the  data  for  Louisiana  this  has  already  been  done. 


127 


The  mean  composition  of  sorghum  juices  used  for  manufacturing 
sugar  on  a  large  scale  up  to  1S87  and  the  means  of  the  two  stations  at 
Kio  Grande  and  Fort  Scott  for  18S7  are  as  follows : 


Up  to  1887. 

Kio  Grande,     Fort  Scott, 
1887.                   1887. 

Per  cent. 
8.54 
4.59 
15.19 

Per  cent.      !    Per  cent. 
8.  98                   9.  54 
3.  24                   3.  40 
14.02                    If..  14 

56.  22                  «4.  0",                59. 1 1 

1 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  cane  both  at  Rio  Grande  and  Fort  Scott  was 
slightly  better  than  the  average  of  the  recorded  analyses  up  to  that 
time.  I  see  no  reason  to  doubt,  however,  the  possibility  of  producing  in 
a  few  years  a  sorghum-cane,  the  purity  of  whose  juice  will  average 
higher  even  than  that  at  Kio  Grande. 

I  am  not  one  of  those,  however,  who  claim  for  sorghum  a  position 
above  the  sugar-cane,  either  at  present  or  remotely.  All  such  claims 
are  based  either  purposely  on  a  few  selected  analyses,  or  iguorantly  on 
partial  evidence,  or  on  no  scientific  evidence  whatever. 

The  work  which  has  been  done  under  my  supervision  has  had  a 
double  purpose:  (1)  To  determine  the  true  average  sugar  content  of 
sorghum  when  grown  on  a  commercial  scale;  and,  (2)  to  devise  the  best 
methods  of  securing  the  sugar  in  merchantable  form. 

I  have  not  hesitated  to  state  the  facts  as  they  were  disclosed  during 
the  progress  of  the  work,  nor  have  I  knowingly  concealed  any  result 
which  has  had  any  apparent  relation  to  the  problem,  whether  of  a  favor- 
able or  unfavorable  nature. 

In  conclusion,  I  will  say  that  I  have  written  this  bulletin  to  bring  into 
convenient  shape  for  reference  all  the  information  which  I  have  been 
able  to  collect-  concerning  the  sugar  industry  of  this  country. 


« 


INDEX 


A. 

Page. 

Analyses  made  hv  Division  of  Chemistry  in  1833 65 

Antisell,  Dr.  Thomas,  analyses  by 61 

Arwshy,  Dr.  IT.  B.,  analyses  by  73 

B. 

Bagasse,  analyses  of 53 

composition  of 54 

Blades  and  stalks,  composition  of  juice  in 65 

Bozartb,  C,  report  of 97 

C. 

Cane,  sorghum,  various  yields  per  acre  of 118 

yield  per  acre 117 

Canes  from  di  lie  rent  parts  of  Wisconsin,  analyses  of 75 

frosted,  analyses  of G5 

selected,  analyses  of  juices  of 6 

jiium,  analyses  of,  by  Dr.  C.  M.  Wetherill 59 

stripped  and  nnstripped,  analyses  of i 63 

Chips,  samples  of,  collected  from  each  cell  and  after  mixing  passed  through  a 

small  mill 1*24 

Clarification,  effect  of  diffusion,  methods  of 57 

Collier,  Dr.  Peter,  analyses  by 61 

effect  of  removing  seed  heads 122 

Fort  Scott  experiments 123 

sorghum  crop  at  Fort  Scott 124 

D. 

Br,  A.  J.,  report  of 95 

Diffusion  experiments  ai  Ottawa,  Ivans.,  1885 69 

(■In  mica!  control  of 33 

juices  at  Fort  Scot  t.  mean  composition  of 125 

for  the  season  of  l  — »'>,  mean  composition  of 72 

run,  first 

second :'.•.' 

third 40 

fourth 4L 

fifth 42 

runs,  summary  of  results  by 4:{ 

Drummond  Brothers,  report  of 

23676— Ball  18 0  129 


130 

E. 

Page. 

Experiments  at  Fort  Scott,  comments  of  Dr.  Collier  on 123 

daring  1888,  analyses  in 71 

for  which  an  award  of  81,200  was  made  by  the  Commissioner  of 

Agriculture 93 

P. 

Failyer.  Prof.  G.  H.,  report  of 68 

Fake,  X.  J.,  analytical  work  by „ 29 

Fort  Scott,  analytical  work  at,  season  of  1^57 5 

instruct  ions  sent  to 5 

work  at,  additional  notes  on 11 

Frazier,  William,  report  of 96 

G. 

Goessmann,  Dr.  C.  A.,  analyses  by 73 

experiments  in  the  manufacture  of  sorghum  sugar  by 69 

II. 

Harvey,  Mr.  J.  IT.,  report  of 99 

Helena,  Wis.,  analyses  made  by  Department  at 69 

Henry,  Prof.  W.  A.,  analyses  by 68 

Hilgard,  Professor,  analyses  by 74 

I. 

Illinois  Industrial  University,  experiments  at,  in  I860 90 

J. 

Jackson,  C.  T.,  analyses  by 72 

Jefferson  Sugar  Company,  report  of 96 

Juice,  discussion  of  the  composition  of,  at  Fort  Scott 126 

from  exhausted  chips  and  corresponding  diffusion  juices,  table  of  glu- 
cose and  sucrose  in 10 

Juices,  comparative  samples  of  raw,  clarified,  and  filtered,  table  of  analyses  of.  33 

and  clarified,  table  of  analyses  of 

defecated,  table  of  analyses  of 71 

diffusion,  for  the  season  <>('  L886,  mean  composition  of 

tables  of  analyses  of 9,28 

employed  in  manufacturing,  analyses  of 106 

.nisted  chip,  table  of  analyses  of 

from  diffusion  chips,  table  of  analyses  of 80 

hand  mill,  analyses  of 10.) 

in  the  cane  at  Fort  Scot  fc,  mean  composition  of 125 

L. 

Lime-kiln  and  bagasse  chimney,  carbonic  dioxide  in  gases  from 57 

ph  8.,  experiments  by — 

Lynch,  Mr.  Peter,  statement  of 99 

If. 

Magnolia,  special  analytical  worh  at 49 

summary  of  data  for  four  yean  at, 4f> 

w  oik  at 21) 

Malt  by,  Nelson,  report  of 95 


> 


131 

Page. 

Masse  cuites,  analyses  of 13 

first,  table  of  analyses  of 35 

sugars,  and  molasses  from  diffusion  runs,  analyses  of 43, 44 

table  of  analyses  of 26 

Mill  juices  at  Magnolia 29 

table  of  analyses  of 30 

from  exhausted  chips,  table  of  analyses  of 10 

fresh  chips,  table  of  analyses  of 8 

whole  canes,  table  of  analyses  of 7 

single  and  double  polarizations  of 50 

Molasses,  analyses  of,  sent  by  W.  J.  Thompson 51 

effect  of  treatment  of,  with  superphosphate  of  lime  and  alumina....  56 

first,  analyses  of 36 

from  first  sugars,  table  of  analyses  of 14 

seconds,  table  of  analyses  of 16 

second,  analyses  of 37 

table  of  analyses  of 27 

single  and  double  polarizations  of 51 

Monselise,  Prof.  Guilio,  analyses  by It 

New  Jersey  Agricultural  Station,  analytical  d-i1?lo(j 2  '   '  v'vV«.-riments  at  .... 

Oak  Hill,  experiments  made  at, in  1857  . ../^H  ^II^V 

Oak  Hill  Refining  Company,  report  of ■  f   , 


Polarization,  comparison  of  direct  and  indirect 49 

R. 

Kio  Grande,  N.  J.,  work  at 20 

S. 

Seed  heads,  effect  of  removal  of 120 

removal  of,  experiments  by  Dr.  Collier  in 139 

Sirups  at  Magnolia,  table  of  analyses  of 34 

single  and  double  polarization  of 50 

tables  of  analyses  of 12,26 

Sorghum,  abstract  of  experiments  with,  at  Fort  Scott,  Ivans 124 

as  a  sugar-producing  plant,  data  relating  to 

analyses  of,  by  Henry  Erni (>0 

at  Prnden,  Miss 77 

cane,  discussion  of  cross-breeding  of  — 112 

the  deterioration  of 11 -J 

the  variation  of,  by  Hippolyte  Leplay 110 

yield  per  ton  of 15 

experiments  in  the  cultnro  of,  at  Algiers 110 

with,  at  Ifodena,  Italy 77 

grown  at  Hutchinson,  Kans.,  anal\  iei  of 7J 

jnioe,  comparison  of  the  composition  of,  at  Rio  Grande  and  Fort 

Scott  in  18c7 

jnioes  manufactured  into  sugar,  means  of  analyses  of 17 

mean  analyses  of 

L             nitrogenous  bodies  in 28 


I 


132 

Page: 

Sorghum  on  Department  grounds,  analyses  of 67 

ripe,  suciose  found  by  Hippolyte  Leplay  in 73 

saccharatum,  variations  of  the  contents  of  sucrose  in  114 

suitable  for  sugar  making,  necessity  of  field  experiments  in 114 

sugar,  discussion  of  the  data  on  the  practical  manufacture  of 103 

experiments  in  the  manufacture  of,  by  Dr.  C.  A.  Goessmanu..  89 

Joseph  IS.  Loveriug  ... 

first  attempt  to  make,  at  Crystal  Lake 100 

made  in  this  country,  by  Dr.  Battey 86 

trials  in  the  manufacture  of,  without  the  Department 100 

various  factories  for  the  manufacture  of 109 

summary  of  average  yields  per  acre  of 120 

tonnage  per  acre,  determined  by  the  New  Jersey  Agricultural  Station  119 

Spencer,  G.  L.,  summary  of  data  for  four  years  at  Magnolia,  by 46 

Steck,  Mr.  Paul,  report  of,  on  sugar  making 94 

Stewart,  F.  L.,  analyses  by 73 

Sterling,  Kans..  analyses  at 79 

Stubbs.  Professor,  means  of  analyses  by 81 

tuckers,  effects  of,  ou  the  composition  of  juioe 63 

*<''£,- ir,  available,  discussions  of,  by  Dr.  Col'ier 62 

and  glucose,  Champaign  Manufacturing  Company,  reports  by 93 

corn  stalk 1^3 

experiments  in  the  practical  manufacture  of,  by  Dr.  Collier 90 

experimental  manufacture  of  

<-b          Field  per  aor<                               .W.A.Henry 118 

Sugars,  first,  ami  ^e^i  versify  experii^za*wns  °^ 1* 

i able  of  an..                            36 

raw,  table  of  analyst                27 

rccrystallized  at  Bio  Grande 27 

table  of  analyses  of 28 

Swenson,  Magnus,  report  of  three  experiments  by 94 

analyses  by * 76 

T. 

Thorns,  Mr.,  communication  to  National  Academy  by 101 

Total  solids,  by  spindle,  comparison  of,  with  the  results  obtained  direct  by 

unit  ion 17 

estimation  of,  by  hydrometers  ami  by  actual  weight 51 

W. 

Weber  and  Scovell,  analyses  by 74 

riments  by,  to  determine  eff               moral  of  seed- 
heads  of  sorghum 121 

practical  experiments  in  the  manufacture  of  sugar  by 91 

yield  per  acre  reported  by 118 

ontin,  experiments  at  the  agricultural  station  in 91 

Work  at  Bio  Grande,  N.  J 20 

Work  on  sorghum  not  done  by  the  Department  of  Agriculture 72 

V. 

mi  quadruple  effect,  analysis  of  sirup  from  34 

stmly  of  inversion  in r>2 

Yields  of  sorghum  per  acre,  summary  of  various 120 

per  ton,  theoretical,  at  Bio  Grande,  N.  J 21 

O 


